Phoenix Jones
Encyclopedia
Phoenix Jones is the leader of a ten-member citizen crime-prevention patrol group who call themselves the Rain City Superhero Movement
, operating out of Seattle and Lynnwood, Washington. In a CBS news broadcast, Jones is shown entering a back room of an unnamed comic book store in which he changes into costume which consists of a Dragon Skin
bulletproof vest
and stab plating
, as well as equipment including a stun baton, pepper spray
or tear gas, handcuffs
and a first aid kit.
Jones says he wanted to take policing matters into his own hands after a few incidents changed his mind about Seattle. The first was when Jones says that his car was broken into and his son was injured after returning to the vehicle and falling on the broken glass. Jones was told that several people saw the break-in happen, but did not intervene. According to Jones the car window had been broken by a rock with a mask wrapped around it, which Jones left in the car's glove box. Later, Jones says that he encountered a friend being seriously assaulted outside a bar, and after calling 911 he put on the mask from the earlier break-in and "made a commotion" until the police showed up. "And I thought, why didn’t someone help him? There were seventy people outside that bar and no one did anything."
Jones went on to develop a full costume and pseudonym, when his crime-fighting behaviour made him too recognizable. He says the best way to prevent getting mistaken for a criminal by the police is to wear a "supersuit", although local police have expressed concern that the strange costumes may lead to emergency calls from citizens who mistake the "superheroes" for criminals. Jones says that all members of the Rain City Superhero Movement have a military or mixed martial arts background. He does not condone other people dressing up and fighting crime.
A few days later, ABC News aired a news story covering Jones. In this report, footage shows Phoenix Jones preventing an intoxicated man from entering his car, threatening to use a stun baton as the man approaches Jones. In the video, a police officer is shown lecturing Phoenix Jones and his group regarding the negative effect masks may have on an intoxicated individual.
On Saturday, the 24th of September 2011, in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Phoenix Jones doused a man with pepper spray after he attempted to steal a bus. The driver of the bus had been handing out fliers when another individual attempted to steal the bus. Jones was reported to have intervened and the hijacker escaped with his skin dyed orange due to the spray. Jones says he didn’t receive any help from Seattle police, who took hours to respond to the incident.
On Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Seattle, Jones was arrested for his role in an altercation involving pepper-spray. Close associates, who were present and equipped with a video camera, told reporters that Phoenix Jones broke up an unfair fight between two groups of nightclub patrons. According to police reports, the officers who responded determined that "there was no fight", with one member of the group denying that anyone among them had been fighting. They asked that the masked man be "arrested for attacking them." According to one woman who was involved in the altercation, after an argument had broken out between her group and another, Jones suddenly approached and pepper-sprayed them, saying "I'm a superhero".However many dispute the truth of her words.. The next day, videographer Ryan McNamee uploaded a video online showing that Phoenix Jones did in fact respond to a fight in progress. Jones was released on bail hours later with no charges having been filed.
In 2011, Jones claims to have had his nose broken by an assailant while attempting to break up a fight, when one of the men pulled a gun on him while another one kicked him, breaking his nose. This incident was never reported to police, and was treated by Jones' private doctor. Seattle police made a statement that this incident confirms their fears that Jones' group are unqualified civilians who interfere with law enforcement and put themselves at risk.
In October 2011, Jones was arrested for investigation of assault, after using pepper spray to break up an alleged fight. He spent approximately seven hours in jail before posting the $3,800 bail.
fights, and a 4-0-0 professional fight record. He also has one defeat in an A-class MMA match to Team Quest member Justin Nelson. Fodor's fight name is listed as 'Fear the Flattop'.
Real-life superhero
Real-life superheroes are people who engage in different forms of activism using the thematic device of the costumed superhero, many of them adopting pseudonyms and wearing custom-made outfits. They perform services that they believe benefit the community in a variety of ways, but which may be...
, operating out of Seattle and Lynnwood, Washington. In a CBS news broadcast, Jones is shown entering a back room of an unnamed comic book store in which he changes into costume which consists of a Dragon Skin
Dragon Skin
Dragon Skin is a type of ballistic vest made by Pinnacle Armor. It is currently produced in Fresno, California. Its characteristic two-inch-wide circular discs overlap like scale armor, creating a flexible vest that allows a good range of motion and can allegedly absorb a high number of hits...
bulletproof vest
Bulletproof vest
A ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso...
and stab plating
Stab vest
A stab vest, or stab proof vest is a reinforced piece of body armor, worn under or over other items of clothing, which is designed to resist knife attacks to the chest, back and sides...
, as well as equipment including a stun baton, pepper spray
Pepper spray
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray , OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears...
or tear gas, handcuffs
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
and a first aid kit.
Jones says he wanted to take policing matters into his own hands after a few incidents changed his mind about Seattle. The first was when Jones says that his car was broken into and his son was injured after returning to the vehicle and falling on the broken glass. Jones was told that several people saw the break-in happen, but did not intervene. According to Jones the car window had been broken by a rock with a mask wrapped around it, which Jones left in the car's glove box. Later, Jones says that he encountered a friend being seriously assaulted outside a bar, and after calling 911 he put on the mask from the earlier break-in and "made a commotion" until the police showed up. "And I thought, why didn’t someone help him? There were seventy people outside that bar and no one did anything."
Jones went on to develop a full costume and pseudonym, when his crime-fighting behaviour made him too recognizable. He says the best way to prevent getting mistaken for a criminal by the police is to wear a "supersuit", although local police have expressed concern that the strange costumes may lead to emergency calls from citizens who mistake the "superheroes" for criminals. Jones says that all members of the Rain City Superhero Movement have a military or mixed martial arts background. He does not condone other people dressing up and fighting crime.
Reported actions
On Sunday, January 2, 2011, in Lynnwood, Phoenix Jones was witnessed by a man, who asked CBS News to be referred only as "Dan", preventing a car break-in by chasing the perpetrator away. CBS News introduced Dan and Phoenix Jones the following Monday evening.A few days later, ABC News aired a news story covering Jones. In this report, footage shows Phoenix Jones preventing an intoxicated man from entering his car, threatening to use a stun baton as the man approaches Jones. In the video, a police officer is shown lecturing Phoenix Jones and his group regarding the negative effect masks may have on an intoxicated individual.
On Saturday, the 24th of September 2011, in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Phoenix Jones doused a man with pepper spray after he attempted to steal a bus. The driver of the bus had been handing out fliers when another individual attempted to steal the bus. Jones was reported to have intervened and the hijacker escaped with his skin dyed orange due to the spray. Jones says he didn’t receive any help from Seattle police, who took hours to respond to the incident.
On Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Seattle, Jones was arrested for his role in an altercation involving pepper-spray. Close associates, who were present and equipped with a video camera, told reporters that Phoenix Jones broke up an unfair fight between two groups of nightclub patrons. According to police reports, the officers who responded determined that "there was no fight", with one member of the group denying that anyone among them had been fighting. They asked that the masked man be "arrested for attacking them." According to one woman who was involved in the altercation, after an argument had broken out between her group and another, Jones suddenly approached and pepper-sprayed them, saying "I'm a superhero".However many dispute the truth of her words.. The next day, videographer Ryan McNamee uploaded a video online showing that Phoenix Jones did in fact respond to a fight in progress. Jones was released on bail hours later with no charges having been filed.
- In another incident several hours earlier, Phoenix Jones had come to the defense of a would-be fight victim. Police arrived after the aggressors had fled. In their report, the police called it a case of "questionable use of pepper spray", but the victim later told the Seattle Times that Jones was indeed a hero who had saved him from "a potential beat-down".
Stance on drugs
When asked if he would have someone arrested for smoking marijuana, Jones said he considered it a low priority, and that he has no problem with people using drugs, but wants drug dealers to "sell somewhere else."Injury
Jones reports being stabbed with a knife while trying to intervene with a drug dealer and a citizen, damaging part of his costume which had to be repaired. He has told police that his ballistic vest helped stop a bullet during an incident in Tacoma.In 2011, Jones claims to have had his nose broken by an assailant while attempting to break up a fight, when one of the men pulled a gun on him while another one kicked him, breaking his nose. This incident was never reported to police, and was treated by Jones' private doctor. Seattle police made a statement that this incident confirms their fears that Jones' group are unqualified civilians who interfere with law enforcement and put themselves at risk.
Rain City Superhero Movement
In July 2011, local police recorded ten citizens patrolling the city in superhero costumes, using the names Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, The Mantis, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Penelope and Phoenix Jones. An individual using the pseudonym "Red Dragon" has also self-identified as being a member of the group. Jones's wife is a member of the Rain City Superhero Movement, under the name "Purple Reign".Criminal record
It has been publicly reported that Phoenix Jones has a criminal record that includes 22 different violations. The majority are for minor traffic violations, mostly speeding tickets. He has been cited 6 times for driving without a license, driving without insurance, or driving with his license suspended. A restraining order was filed against him by another costumed crusader with whom he had feuded over the internet. Jones also was booked during a traffic stop in Snohomish County for "refusal to give information to or cooperate with an officer."In October 2011, Jones was arrested for investigation of assault, after using pepper spray to break up an alleged fight. He spent approximately seven hours in jail before posting the $3,800 bail.
Identity
Although prosecutors had not filed charges, Jones appeared in court wearing a black and gray striped shirt over his costume on October 13, 2011. A court officer asked Jones to remove his mask, and he complied, before putting the mask back on after the hearing. Jones then spoke with reporters and removed his mask again to reveal his identity as Ben Fodor. Fodor stated that he would continue patrolling the city:Fight Record
Benjamin Fodor holds an 11-0-0 record in unsanctioned amateur mixed martial artsMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fights, and a 4-0-0 professional fight record. He also has one defeat in an A-class MMA match to Team Quest member Justin Nelson. Fodor's fight name is listed as 'Fear the Flattop'.