Phoenix Jones | |
---|---|
Phoenix Jones | |
Vital Statistics | |
Hero | Phoenix Jones |
Alias(es) | Guardian of Seattle Fear the Flattop |
Identity | Public |
Alter Ego | Benjamin Fodor |
Category | Vigilante |
Location | Seattle, Washington, USA 47° 36' 13.80" N, 122° 19' 48.22" W |
Status | Retired |
Superhero Activity | |
Team | Rain City Superhero Movement |
Affiliates | El Caballero, Midnight Jack, Westlake Drake, Ghost, Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, The Mantis, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Penelope, Purple Reign (ex-wife),
Caros Fodor (brother) |
Foes | Crime, Rex Velvet |
Actions | Crimefighting |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Male |
Outfit | Black and Gold rubber suit |
Colors | Black, Gold |
Symbol | N/A |
Equipment | Ballistic vest, Pepper spray, Stun Baton, Handcuffs |
Abilities | Unarmed combat |
Phoenix Jones was a Real Life Superhero who operated in Seattle, Washington. He has retired.[1]
Phoenix Jones was the leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement. He became active in 2010, patrolling the streets of Seattle regularly, looking for crime, and helping the homeless or others in need. He claims to have made over 130 arrests, with proof for over 50 of them.[citation needed] Jones carried an arsenal of non-lethal weaponry and equipment, including pepper spray, a stun baton, a ballistic vest, and even a ballistic shield.
History
Beginning
Phoenix Jones began in 2010 when Ben Fodor experienced an incident involving his son. Coming back from a water park, he let his son run ahead, who fell over when he reached their car. Fodor soon realized that his son's leg was sliced open and their car had been broken into with glass now littered the floor. Not having his phone, Fodor called to a man across the street to call 911 but the man replied "I can't, it'll ruin my video," as he was filming the whole incident. This annoyed Fodor, to think that someone was witnessing the incident, yet was doing nothing to help, and it sparked an idea in Fodor's head to not let that happen to anyone else again.[citation needed]
Soon enough, another incident happened that let Fodor put his plan into action. One night, when Fodor was out with his friends, one of them was seriously assaulted. Immediately, Fodor ran to his car to get his phone but when he opened his glove box, out fell the mask belonging to the person who robbed his car; so Fodor put the mask on, chased after the man and subdued him until police arrived. And from this incident, Phoenix Jones was born.[citation needed]
Phoenix Jones went on to develop a full outfit and pseudonym when his crime-fighting behavior made him too recognizable. Later on, Phoenix Jones gave up maintaining the secrecy of the identity of his civilian alter-ego, willingly unmasking himself in public. [2]
Controversial Events
Due to Phoenix Jones' relatively high media profile, there are a number of controversies attached to him.
$10,000 Super Suit Donation Drive
In 2012, Phoenix Jones started a donation drive in order to fund getting a new state-of-the-art armored battle suit.[3] Many members of the RLSH community found this action to be immoral due to the fact that the donation drive was linked to Purple Reign's charitable website.[4]
He posted on his Facebook page a picture of a brand new helmet with a visor, he asked fans to photoshop some designs for it, black and yellow only.
Pepper Spray Incidents
Phoenix Jones was accused of using pepper spray on a group of men and women on May Day 2011. He avoided criminal assault charges. However, in October 2011 he was arrested on assault charges stemming from another pepper spray-related incident. He was forced by the courts to reveal his identity for trial.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
On Saturday, September 24, 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.[11]
"Mutual Combat" incident
In November 2012, Phoenix Jones had an altercation with a man he accused of harassing people on the street. This situation eventually led to a fight between Jones and the man. [12] Seattle police determined this fight was deemed legal under Seattle's Mutual Combat laws. [13]
Apology 2015
In early 2015 Phoenix Jones put a video on his Facebook page of himself making an apology to other Real life Superheroes for the way he had 'insulted' them over the years.[14]
Man in Tree
March 22, 2016, in Seattle, Washington, Jones attempted to assist authorities in talking the "Man in Tree" down from the 80-foot sequoia he had climbed, but police rejected the offer.[15]
Arrest 2020
On January 10, 2020, Ben Fodor and his accomplice, Andrea Irene Berendsen, were arrested for selling MDMA and cocaine to undercover police officers. He was booked into King County Jail for violating the Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Fodor was released from jail January 11 and is scheduled for arraignment on February 3, according to online records.[16][17][18]
Images
Members of the RCSM, L-R: Buster Doe, Red Dragon, Phoenix Jones.
Members of the RCSM
L-R: Red Dragon, Black Knight, Phoenix Jones.
Phoenix Jones forced to unmask following his 2011 arrest.
Evocatus, Phoenix Jones, SkyMan, Omega, and Midnight Jack 2014
Phoenix Jones against the Seattle cityscape.
External Links
References
- ↑ http://nw-nerd.com/podcasts/2019/3/7/episode-325-why-seattles-superhero-phoenix-jones-is-retiring Northwest Nerd Podcast Episode 325: 'Why Seattle's Superhero Phoenix Jones is Retiring', March 7, 2019
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/10/16/phoenix-jones-back-on-patrol-after-his-dramatic-unveiling/
- ↑ https://mynorthwest.com/70045/crime-fighter-phoenix-jones-wants-your-help-to-pay-for-new-suit/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2012/07/09/phoenix-jones-sells-snake-oil-calls-it-a-supersuit/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/11/25/seattle-superhero-avoids-charges-in-crime-fighting-fracas/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/11/02/state-keeping-superhero-away-from-disabled-kids/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/10/31/running-after-phoenix-jones-a-man-on-the-street-report/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/10/19/woman-who-hit-phoenix-jones-nothing-gives-him-a-right-to-do-that/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/10/16/phoenix-jones-back-on-patrol-after-his-dramatic-unveiling/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/10/11/phoenix-jones-real-life-seattle-superhero-arrested-for-pepper-spray-assault/
- ↑ https://www.rlsh.net/archive/2011/09/27/local-superhero-breaks-up-bus-jacking/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVLvAOsX95M&ab_channel=ThePhoenixJones
- ↑ https://mynorthwest.com/32084/seattle-police-stand-by-and-watch-phoenix-jones-fistfight/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT7cDcuDQgE Phoenix Jones' YouTube channel
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/23/after-15-hours-and-counting-this-seattle-man-refuses-to-get-down-from-iconic-80-foot-tree/
- ↑ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/seattle-superhero-phoenix-jones-charged-after-undercover-drug-bust/
- ↑ https://komonews.com/news/local/real-life-superhero-phoenix-jones-in-super-trouble-facing-drug-charges?fbclid=IwAR0cSOEFHQGxzFtoTcaAW9AdEDxg9uiQx600g7MRKe777RjRINXaMLYXaSI KOMO News: "Real-life superhero 'Phoenix Jones' in super trouble, facing drug charges," Quixem Ramirez, 1/27/2020
- ↑ https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/01/phoenix-jones-crime-fighting-superhero-arrested-drug-dealing MMA Junkie: "Report: Crime-fighting MMA superhero 'Phoenix Jones' arrested on drug charges, 1/27/2020