@Nefarious said:
@serum: Yeah, I know he is a human.
Phoenix Jones (born Benjamin John Francis Fodor, 1988) is the leader of a ten-member costumed vigilante group who call themselves the Rain City Superhero Movement, and operates out of Seattle and Lynnwood, Washington. In a CBS Channel 7 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 Skinbulletproof vest and stab plating, as well as a stun baton and oleoresin capsicum/tear gas personal defense spray.
Jones says the best way to prevent getting mistaken for a criminal by the police is to wear a supersuit. He does not condone other people dressing up and fighting crime. He says that all members of the Rain City Superhero Movement have a military and/or mixed martial arts background.
Reported Actions
Sunday, the 2nd of January 2011, in Lynnwood, Washington, 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.
In January 2011, ABC News aired a news story covering Phoenix Jones, in this report, footage shows Phoenix Jones preventing an intoxicated man from entering his car, threatening to use what appear to be a cattle prod 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 Belltown, Washington, 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.
On Sunday, the 9th of October, in Seattle, Washington, 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".. On October 14th, www.bleedingcool.com uploaded a video showing that Phoenix Jones did in fact respond to a fight outside a bar. As of the 15th, prosecutors were still considering whether to drop the criminal charges.
Stance on drugs
Jones was asked by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, of Publicola.com, if he would have someone arrested for smoking marijuana, he 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 reportedly 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. Seattle police made a statement that this incident confirms their fears that these real-life super heroes are unqualified civilians who interfere with law enforcement and put themselves at risk.
Members of the Rain City Superhero Movement
The membership of the Rain City Superhero Movement includes:
- Phoenix Jones (leader)
- Buster Doe
- Red Dragon
- Green Reaper
- Thorn
- Gemini
- No Name
- Catastrophe
- Thunder 88
- Penelope
- Purple Reign (wife)
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 over four counts 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 superhero uniform on October 13, 2011. A court officer asked Jones to remove his mask, which he complied to before putting the mask back on after the hearing. Jones then spoke with reporters and removed his mask again to reveal his identity as 23-year-old Benjamin John Francis Fodor. Fodor stated that he would continue patrolling the city:
I will continue to patrol with my team, probably tonight [October 13, 2011]. In addition to being Phoenix Jones, I am also Ben Fodor, father and brother. I am just like everybody else. The only difference is that I try to stop crime in my neighborhood and everywhere else. I think I have to look toward the future and see what I can do to help the city.
Fight Record
Benjamin Fodor currently holds an 11-0-0 in unsanctioned amateur mixed martial arts fights, and a 4-0-0 professional fight record. His fight name is listed as 'Fear the Flattop'.
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