Seattle police stand by and watch Phoenix Jones fistfight

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on November 12, 2012 @ 6:13 am (Updated: 2:03 pm - 11/12/12 )

The Seattle Police Department is trying to explain why its officers decided to stand by and allow a fight in the University District between so-called superhero Phoenix Jones and a man who wanted to take a shot at him.

Jones and his crew were on patrol Friday night when they spotted the man punching the window of a car and scaring the passengers of the vehicle, Jones says in a description on his YouTube channel. A video of the incident shows him stepping in to stop the assault and calling 911.

The suspect turns his anger to Jones, lobbing a barrage of racial slurs at him and challenging him to a fight. While police encouraged Jones to leave the area, he instead accepted the man's challenge to fight on the sidewalk.

Several officers stood by as the pair squared off in what was termed by one of Jones' accomplices as "mutual combat." It didn't last long. After slowing the man with a few kicks to the leg, Jones floored with him with a single punch.

Seattle Police are defending their officers for not interceding.

"This situation actually isn't much different than a Friday or Saturday night outside nightclubs and you'll have fights erupt" Sgt. Sean Whitcomb tells KING 5.

Whitcomb says a rarely used city law allows fighting as long as both people agree to it, no bystanders are hurt, and no property is damaged.

The incident is under review but unlikely to be pursued further.

"Officers inquired whether there was any medical attention required for the person who was punched in the face and that person declined," said Whitcomb. "Officers then left the scene before they themselves were assaulted by that second party, not the super-hero party."

Jones says the only reason he agreed to fight is because the other man threatened to come to his house.

"I take my family's safety very seriously," Jones wrote on his YouTube channel.

KIRO Radio's Frank Shiers contributed to this report.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
Straight from the newsdesk.
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Comments (46)


  • Add A Comment

  • imanegro wrote...
    Go Phoenix Jones
    November 12, 2012 6:27 am
    Adios, bad guys.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    Ha,ha,ha,
    November 12, 2012 7:23 am
    Everybody thinks they can fight until they get hit upside the head and learn that this is not television and they are in a real fight. Ha,ha,ha,ha, one punch and he fell like a sack of potatos.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SaneInSeattle wrote...
    Um...
    November 12, 2012 1:35 pm
    Fodor was also wearing body armor and metal-reinforced gloves. That's not a "real fight", that's an idiot in a costume grandstanding.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Whidbeyboy wrote...
    Then we need more idiots like him
    November 12, 2012 11:01 pm
    The guy deserved it IMO. He knew what he was getting into, and if your going to get drunk and pick a fight with a super hero, deal with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • froggy wrote...
    The problem with this is...
    November 12, 2012 7:30 am
    that if either party had been seriously injured, who do you think they'd have sued? The City of Seattle would be paying out big bucks for allowing "Disorderly Conduct" where one party was injured. While you might think a civil suit of this type would hurt the police, it wouldn't. It would only hurt all of the other services that the City of Seattle provides. Sure, this fight may have ended relatively peacefully, but how many times has some other idiot decided to end things by pulling out a gun? Then what do you say? This incident should have been stopped before it got started. If they want to fight, the ring is the place for it. Not out on the street.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • KLouis wrote...
    Nope
    November 12, 2012 1:29 pm
    WA mutual combat law states that they are allowed to fight as long as: 1. Both parties agree 2. No public disruption is made 3. No property is damaged. Both parties are responsible for there own injuries during the battle and it is both wrong and illegal for the police to interfere with legal activity.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • froggy wrote...
    What RCW says that?
    November 12, 2012 8:48 pm
    I am not aware of this one and can't find the law you are referring to. I can find, however, in the Seattle Municipal Code under 12A where fighting is permissable when licensed. I am thinking neither of these two obtained a license to fight in the street. This then would make the fight illegal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SaneInSeattle wrote...
    Yes. This.
    November 12, 2012 1:37 pm
    Probably the most sense that I've heard on this thread, or surrounding Mr. Fodor's actions in this video. There's also the issue of "Phoenix Jones" supposedly holding himself to a higher standard (and claims to ALL. THE. TIME.), but yet just caaaaaaan't resist getting a fight of his up on YouTube. Great example for his children, or anyone else, right?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Whidbeyboy wrote...
    Wrong
    November 12, 2012 11:02 pm
    He did as much as anyone should to avoid the fight, ad after the guy threatend to come to his house the mask came off and he did what we would all want him to do. At least people who hate these drunk bullies.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sometimesrock wrote...
    well now
    November 12, 2012 7:34 am
    HAHAHAHAHA, what a bunch of pansies. Don't start something you can't finish.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Shplunker wrote...
    Good job SPD...
    November 12, 2012 7:34 am
    ...They should let more loud-mouthed idiot punks get their heads kicked in.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cybermatrix24 wrote...
    @ AJ McCarrell....
    November 12, 2012 7:36 am
    I COMPLETELY disagree! The cops are totally out of line here. Their job is to protect and serve and to maintain order in society. How are they doing that when they are allowing two people to fight right in front of them. They might as well have been taking bets from the crowd as to who they thought was going to win. From the moment the police showed up on the scene they failed to take control of the situation. A complete failure on the part of the police!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    Courts have ruled
    November 12, 2012 12:51 pm
    that Police don't have such duty to protect. If they don't want to get involved, they don't have to. Sad but true, it was a supreme court decision, after a crime in DC the cops didn't stop.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    You're kind of an idiot Phoenix, but nice goin' anyway..
    November 12, 2012 7:38 am
    Fights that should only be in the ring is a nice thought but unfortunately, it's difficult to organize chaos. After all the bad cop news this year, I can see why the SDP was perfectly OK with letting a punk get his head beat in a bit by someone other than their own.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    Loser in the Orange shirt
    November 12, 2012 7:55 am
    ..you are a loser! Hahahahah! And now your shirtless friend can legaly marry you. What upsets me thou, these drunks are the same a double s holes that screw the night life up every where. GO back to your trailers.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • circuitfr wrote...
    cops were right
    November 12, 2012 8:29 am
    The laws of this nation are to protect innocent people from AGGRESSION. If two people want to fight, they have every right to. There is no law against to consenting fighters except disorderly which amounts to nothing. Now, the fighters have to take on risk that they could injure or even kill someone with a well placed punch or if the drunk guy falls and smashed his head. That is there risk. It is not up to the cops to take away their freedom. For once, score one for the good guys.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    Yet another reason..
    November 12, 2012 8:28 am
    ...not to spend any time in Seattle. A bunch of roving twits.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Whidbeyboy wrote...
    Sorry
    November 12, 2012 11:09 pm
    tthat you've had a tough time meeting girls in the city. But that's no reason to hate everything.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Legion wrote...
    I agree with AJ
    November 12, 2012 8:44 am
    I 100% agree with AJ on this one. Whether you're tipsy, drunk, blackout drunk or sober, don't ever let your mouth write checks your a55 can't cash. Period. The only thing that would've made this video better is if Phoenix Jones knocked the snot out of the other "tough guy" who wouldn't shut the h%ll up. Reason #738 why people are the worst creatures......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }