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.

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Comments (46)


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  • fishnpol wrote...
    They were drunk and disorderly
    November 12, 2012 9:26 am
    When the thugs came into Phoenixs personal space he had the right to stand his ground and defend himself but he did the right thing he called the Police, it was their duty to make sure no one got hurt. Them sitting there watching a guy get hit and get a concussion was just wrong even if it was nice to see a bully get his due. The Police should have either taken them in or dispersed them before any punches were thrown.
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  • Padre wrote...
    He called "quits"?
    November 12, 2012 9:27 am
    What the heck is "quits?" It's a street fight. "Quits" is for play fighting. BTW: Good job, Phoenix Jones.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    really,
    November 12, 2012 1:02 pm
    there is a code amoung street fighters, that allows the loser to call quits?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Next time "the fight" might not be so clean and observed
    November 12, 2012 9:35 am
    by Seattle's finest.Bad idea.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hedujg26 wrote...
    Another Bad move by the cops.
    November 12, 2012 9:57 am
    Forget AJ's macho posing on a fight, forget the redneck idea that "its just a fight". The cops let it escalate to a level it should not have, especially if one of the guys was drunk. The cops were there, they were supposed to be in charge, and they werent. If Jones's family was threatened, they he files a complaint like everyone else. Does he get a free pass cause he is wearing some stupid superhero outfit? He11 no. Jones serves no purpose, and isnt doing any job the cops arent doing. Get your face out of the comic book and come look at real life. Witht his as an example, he is causing more problems for the cops than solving. No wonder the Seattle cops are having such problems.
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  • hedujg26 wrote...
    Also, gotta ask....
    November 12, 2012 10:00 am
    Why is this News source calling him a Super Hero? Do they have any credibility left? Does a suit make him a super hero? If it does, i know a whole class of 2nd graders who are super heroes. Remember on Veteran's Day that this news source called this joker a hero.
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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    ben fodor you need to grow up
    November 12, 2012 10:40 am
    you have a wife and young child at home. your job when you are not at your real paying job is to be a father to your kid and husband to your wife. who are you expecting to raise your child while you roam the streets medling in drunken bar fights all night? and why in the world would your wife subject your kid to your behavior? she needs to leave you and find a real man who isn't out playing dress up looking to get shot leaving behind yet another fatherless child who's perceived best option is joining a gang.
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  • Dizzle wrote...
    Ok, with Pheonix but...
    November 12, 2012 10:45 am
    He has a right to roam around and be crime fighter, just as others have a right to be drunken morons who think they're tougher than they really are.

    The cops do know PJ helps more than he hurts. This was an earned gesture of trust on their part, and he didn't let them down.

    That said, his "street celebrity" thing is now bound to become more of a problem. Tougher guys will now want to be the ones who take him down for the cameras. I like PJ, but this video is where his schtick really jumped the shark. He let his own pride and anger get the best of him.

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  • hpygolkyone wrote...
    Hmmmmm?............
    November 12, 2012 10:52 am
    When two parties go into battle, you don't send your "second best" fighter into the arena. If "shirtless guy" was such a great fighter, why didn't they send him in to teach the super hero a lesson? Instead, they send in the big guy who after nearly getting his leg broken, decided he had enough......bad choice.

    Very interesting development.

    I'm looking into my crystal ball and seeing the stakes being raised for Mr. PJ. The bar has been raised from just running around with his cell phone looking for evil-doers and calling the police, to getting into physical altercations.

    The next obvious situation is some evil-doer is going to see PJ, confront him with a weapon and Mr. PJ will have brought fists, to a gunfight.

    I hope I'm wrong

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  • QueenBee wrote...
    He tried to walk away many times
    November 12, 2012 11:30 am
    What you guys are forgetting is that these thugs busted through a car window and someone actually witnessed it. He called 911 and these thugs continued to follow him. PJ walked away many times and they just kept following him. He agreed to a brawl and took the guy out and once again, tried to walk away but they just kept on and on and on. The police didn't intervene because #1 - it's good entertainment, #2 - they didn't have to. That thug was all mouth and he got butt kicked. Go PJ. He is an MMA fighter and continued to walk away from the altercation. When challenged, he took it on. The Seattle PD has your back PJ. You can do the things that they aren't able to do because of their badge. They're always getting sued by someone just by doing their job. Good job Seattle PD and PJ.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    if what you say is true,
    November 12, 2012 1:08 pm
    I disagree with your point #2, they should have detained and investigated the crime that was witnessed, not let PJ fight it out with the alleged perps. and after the fight, I would at least detained the shirtless guy with the big mouth. and for the record, if you're going to agree to a fight, you should also agree on the way to stop the fight. I didn't catch any of the exit clauses, only their agreement to start the fight, no discussion on how to end it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gar57 wrote...
    Always a good thing
    November 12, 2012 12:08 pm
    Whenever punks like these are forced to back up their false bravado, it's a good thing. Good for Phoenix Jones, good for the cop who let them settle it. Problem is, though, that D-bags like these guys usually pick on someone who they are confident can't win a fight. Gotta love it when they're wrong!
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