Superhero Phoenix Jones criticizes Seattle police handling of protests

Self-proclaimed superhero Phoenix Jones is taking the Seattle Police Department to task for allowing recent protests to get violent, with property damage and even an officer injured without a single arrest.

Jones tells KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz he was on the scene of a demonstration Saturday on Capitol Hill trying to help keep the peace when the crowd got rowdy.

“I just don’t know why protesting somehow got synonymous with breaking other people’s things, property damage, and hurting people. That’s where I’m so confused,” he says.

Jones says he spotted one protestor hurl a rock through the window of a Ferrari dealership and grabbed the guy. But when he tried to get him arrested, police declined to take any action.

“I ran up and grabbed the guy and kind of pushed him back and then at that point the cops came up and told me not to touch any of the protesters,” says Jones.

Jones says he supports the rights of people to protest, but draws the line at lawlessness. He faults police for being far too tolerant.

“If someone is throwing a rock, that person needs to be arrested. If someone is smashing out the windows of your cruiser, that person needs to be arrested. Eventually we have to stand for something, otherwise things are going to get completely out of control.”

Jones and Rantz both argue the protest on Capitol Hill had little to do with the decision by a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, to not indict now-former police officer Darren Wilson. Rather, they say it was just another opportunity to underscore a hatred of capitalism and cops.

“I believe there is a race problem in America for sure, I believe there is an equality problem with the way certain police treat African American people. I just don’t think Mike Brown is the calling card for that for me,” Jones says.

Jones argues all of the “gray areas” in the Brown case suggest the teen might have been complicit in the shooting. He admits his opinion is not popular with many, particularly in the black community.

Jones disputes the notion Seattle has a widespread race problem as many of the protesters assert.

“I would say we have a police abuse of power problem that has actually been dropping since we have the new police chief.”

But he says the police overcompensated for previous problems by becoming far too tolerant. And he says he and his colleagues will be out in force to prevent property damage as the protests continue.

He’ll apparently have plenty of company.

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said SPD would deploy far more officers in the coming demonstrations. “We’re making it clear that people who assault police officers, people who put others in danger, will be arrested.”