Listen to Dori Monson weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
 Dori Monson


Phoenix Jones fist fight video goes viral

BY Jillian Raftery  on November 12, 2012 @ 11:53 am (Updated: 3:26 pm - 11/12/12 )


Phoenix Jones, Seattle's own superhero, joined the Dori Monson Show to discuss a video shot of him and a man engaging in "mutual combat" as Seattle police officers look on.

The self-styled "rain-city superhero" says he was called to action when he saw a man punching the window of a car on University Way early Friday morning. Phoenix, who regularly patrols Seattle streets looking out for this kind of aggression, called 911 and stepped in to prevent what he thought might be an assault in progress.

"He was over near this car, and he's been yelling at this car, slamming his fist on the hood, so I start to call 911 and he punches the window and the window cracks," said Phoenix. "So me and my guys go over and split it up."

The group started to walk away as the suspect in the video acted more and more aggressively toward Phoenix, trying to provoke him. The man followed them for blocks, yelling racial slurs.

It was only when the man threatened Phoenix and said he'd follow him home that Phoenix faced his aggressor.

"I'm not going to let someone follow me to my house," said Phoenix. "I'm not letting some guy who's violent with other people follow me home. It's not going to happen. If it had just been about him calling me the N-word, I would have walked it off, like I told the cops. It was just, the cop had said he was going to let that guy follow me. No one is going to follow me."

Dori noted that the fight was a mismatch from the beginning.

"I have a couple black belts and about 30 cage fights or so," said Phoenix of his mixed martial arts experience.

After clarifying the terms of legal "mutual combat" with his opponent and police officers standing by, the two men shook hands. Phoenix came out on top in the melee and backed off once his opponent went down.

Phoenix said he tried to cause minimal physical damage during the fight. He reasoned that if the man couldn't walk, he couldn't follow him home.

"What people are forgetting," said Phoenix, "Is that we agreed to fight until he falls down."

In the aftermath of the videotaped fight, however, Seattle police officers are having to justify their decision to stand by and watch the fight.

Phoenix argued that the police didn't have grounds to intervene, since they agreed to mutual combat, which has legal precedent under Washington state case law. Phoenix even carries a card in his pocket explaining the legality of a duel in the streets, where both parties consent to the fight and agree to the rules.

"No laws were broken," said Phoenix.

Dori has known Phoenix for years and knows how skilled and capable he is.

"Ben (Phoenix's mild-mannered alter-ego) grew up, what, three doors down from me," said Dori. "I've always thought you were a great young man, and now you're Phoenix Jones."

But despite his confidence in the superhero's skills, Dori still worries that his long-time friend will be seriously hurt patrolling our city streets.

"Someone has to protect this city. I chose this job," said Phoenix, "And I'm going to do it to the best of my abilities, and I understand the consequences."


Take our poll: Do you think Seattle Police officers should have interfered with the fight?

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
Related:
More Dori Monson

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (32)


  • Add A Comment

  • dbhawkfan84 wrote...
    Real life batman!
    November 13, 2012 11:11 am
    LOVE IT! Should have handed it to the second guy talk trash also. What a putz! Phoenix Jones! You da man!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rich@PacificWA wrote...
    Mutual Bullies
    November 13, 2012 1:04 pm
    I think that Mr. Jones is just a busy body and/or bully hiding behind a mask. If he has all the training that Dori and Phoenix says that he has, to go along with cage fighting he has done. Then he would be no match for anyone walking down the street. He should have just walked away after he called the police to report beating on the car. It is just a matter of time before someone who knows what they are doing with a hand gun crosses paths with Mr. Phoenix, and you can forget your bullet proof vest. They will put two rounds in the middle of his chest (knocking the wind out of him) and then they will walk up and put one between the eyes. As sad as it sounds, it is just a matter of time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 35% H2O2 Hydrogen2o2 com wrote...
    Cheap Shot
    November 16, 2012 12:34 pm
    What a little bi@#$ phoenix Cheap shot. Hes calling mutual combat ya think phoenix would realize a equivalent street fight tap out. What a pussy. I'm stoked the cops didn't jump in. But if the cop clearly heard the guy call it and say "ok, ok, that's it." TAPPING OUT. Then maybe the cop should have stepped in I'm not sure the way the law is written. But I could clearly here the guy calling it. The dumbaxx shouldn't have been pounding on someone else's car though.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tide wrote...
    Biased interview
    November 22, 2012 5:53 pm
    Wow, this Dori guy is an buthole. He was constantly speaking negatively about Phoenix and trying to add in his little jokes here and there but I saw right through this dick. He even went as far as saying that Phoenix was going to get killed one of these days. He kept saying it over and over. You don't say that type of crap to someone who is putting their butt on the line to protect the city. Phoenix is living life by faith and God is protecting him. This Dori guy is an undercover racist buthole.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }