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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.
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Comments (32)


  • Add A Comment

  • Ted Bundi wrote...
    Reminds me of the Vietnam days,
    November 12, 2012 5:50 pm
    Oh well, we will see who wins this war.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    Cops did right
    November 12, 2012 7:05 pm
    That Jackaxx got what he come coming
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    cops are criminally negligent and should be terminated.
    April 12, 2013 2:08 pm
    so how cool would it have been if one of these stooges when crashing though on of those pane windows, but his throat - or fell cracked his head on the curb... CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE! Kris Kimes is dead because he got between to 'willing combatants' city of seattle ought to be sued into insolvency for this utter disregard for public safety. Both cops need to be fired. Feds need to add this to the pile of issues w/ the SPD.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    cops are criminally negligent and should be terminated.
    April 12, 2013 2:11 pm
    so how cool would it have been if one of these stooges went crashing though one of those pane windows, cut his throat - or fell and cracked his head on the curb... cops standing there w/ their hands in their pockets. CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE! Kris Kimes is dead because he got between to 'willing combatants' city of seattle ought to be sued into insolvency for this utter disregard for public safety. Both cops need to be fired. Feds need to add this to the pile of issues w/ the SPD.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    Alcohol
    November 12, 2012 8:25 pm
    Can lead to getting knocked up or knocked out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    Somebody needed to...
    November 12, 2012 8:32 pm
    Shut that dude's little yapping lapdog up.

    Wish he'd agreed to fighting PJ too. Would have been lights outs for the little b.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    Oh, and quick...
    November 12, 2012 8:35 pm
    Somebody find out what frat those d-bags were members of! I bet they live on 17th somewhere!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • John wrote...
    Seattle is lucky to have PJ out on the streets...
    November 12, 2012 8:46 pm
    I also agree with Dori, there are too many wackos out there with guns. Hope he doesn't get hurt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • What? wrote...
    Go PJ
    November 12, 2012 8:49 pm
    I am so sick of these passy _ss people threatning society. I am so proud of PJ. But, This was "just a punk" and his coronies. I worry for PJ. Thank U for kicken his _ss and putting the punk in his place without seriously hurting the creep. You were more kind than I would have been had I'd known what I was doing (fight) in this situation like you did. You were TOO kind to him. Take care of yourself PJ. And The Seattle cops handled this perfectly. Kudos to them too!!!!!!!!!!!! A good ending.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    ben
    November 12, 2012 8:53 pm
    did your kids have you or did you have your kids? be a man, go home, and raise them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • What? wrote...
    OBVIOUSL Y williamohoh wrote
    November 12, 2012 10:11 pm
    You do not get out much. Either do I, since I am so afraid to walk the streets of Seattle afer dark. So Sorry you do not appreciate the desire for the rest of us to have the ability to do so. The creeps are not going to go away. But if we as a society can say NO!!!!NO!!!! NO!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!NO!!!!!!NO!!!!!!NO!!!!!!NO!!!!NO!!!!!NO!!!!!NO!!!!!!NO! And the Police can stand behind us!!!! That is a start, The police can not do it alone. The have too many rules and regulations. And they have to be "polite" to these hard core A--ss holes> The cops are not allowed to speak "the" language on the streets to communicate "the message" and if you do not think these people do not understand any other language.. you are from a different planet. You try and do the cops job and say "now, boys and girls this is how I would like you to cooperate and behave ....." Good luck... you Fking moron. "You" put your life on the line before U R critical of the police. GO 4 IT!!! BE ME GUEST! PS>>> GO Sandy
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • What? wrote...
    PJ ..If PJ was not such a nice guy
    November 12, 2012 11:07 pm
    PJ would have taken down the guy who took off his shirt after the 30-40 sec downfall of his friend only to see his A--ssss on the ground too. Too funny. These guys need to go home B4 they start to mess with someone "really" serious. GO HOME U Fking FOOLS.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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