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
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Comments (46)


  • Add A Comment

  • twodjacobs wrote...
    Beautiful!
    November 12, 2012 12:49 pm
    That was a perfect example of how to be a man with self-control. Nicely done Mr. Jones! And SPD cannot micromanage every soul and their actions. Somethings should be handled by the subjects of the disagreement.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    ben you sound bright
    November 12, 2012 12:57 pm
    why not focus your energy and time on law school? that would benefit your family much more than a dead father.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hedujg26 wrote...
    Aj, you know nothing...
    November 12, 2012 1:29 pm
    I come from a family cops, and no cops think what he did was a bright idea. You really have no idea the ramifications of what is happening here. He is fklaunting law enforcement as much as criminals, because he feels due process is needed and that he is above proper procedure. And he draws that element out by wearing a stupis-a22 costume. There is more respect in a neighborhood watch system than this clown. The fight shuld have never happened. If there was 911 call for this guy breaking a car window, why wasnt that pursued? What if the guy produced a gun or knife? This whole action should have been treated like a call to any domestic violence call, where parties are seperated, violence avoided by scaling down the situation. But in your fantasy comic book world, Batman is real and Superheroes exist. You will always be irrelevant til you come kicking and screaming into reality.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    you make a good point
    November 12, 2012 3:20 pm
    when SPD go to a dv call, they can now just ask the parties involved, "did you agree to fight?" if the fighters both say "yes", then the police can watch the fight before they head back to the coffee shop. (assuming they don't get hit by any flying plates, and have to arrest someone for assaulting a police officer)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lillyrose125 wrote...
    No Problem
    November 12, 2012 1:42 pm
    I see no problem here either. If one of them were being beat senseless, then that's another thing. Sounds like this guy got what was coming to him. Good job Phoenix Jones!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • NWGUY wrote...
    what if...
    November 12, 2012 3:29 pm
    So the orange idiot, pleads for "quits" and still PJ pummells him one in the head, just for principle. Orange had stopped being the aggressor, and now PJ is just applying the last punch. supposed orange smacked his head on the ground and is now dead. are you still thinking the police did the right thing?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Don't ya just love
    November 12, 2012 5:31 pm
    Stupid Drunk people! These guys ALL need to get their asssssessss kicked. Hopefully they'll go back to Spanaway and beat the crap out of each other...Stupid friggin inbreeders!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Spanaway
    November 12, 2012 6:27 pm
    Is right close to Parkland where you live, maplecarp. Do you know these guys? Sounds like there are your homies.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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