Kamandi
Super Freak
Seattle's 'superhero' has nose broken in confrontation
Police say he and others should trade capes for cell phones
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
photo
"Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle," one of the city's self-proclaimed "superheroes," is pictured in this photo from KOMO-TV.
One of Seattle's self-proclaimed superheroes had his nose broken and was threatened at gunpoint Saturday, prompting police to again ask that he and others stop with the costumes and call 911.
The Man of Steel he is not.
Police spokespeople say they heard about the incident from reporters -- Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle talked about the incident Monday with seattlepi.com partner, KOMO/4. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said he isn't aware of a police report regarding the incident.
Some patrol officers have mistaken what they call the "costume-wearing complaints" for criminals, and say in some cases the characters are lucky they haven't been seriously hurt. That confusion prompted police to issue a bulletin to alert patrol officers in November.
"Does Superman get his ass kicked?" one detective asked. "These people should not be called superheroes."
Police noted that and other details about the self-proclaimed superheroes -- including Jones' real name -- in the November bulletin. Seattlepi.com first reported on the recent movement then, including details about Jones' costume with a bulletproof vest, arm and leg trauma plates.
"I endanger my life with a reason and a purpose," Jones told KOMO's Luke Ducey Monday.
On "Good Morning America" last week, Jones said calling 911 is a great start, but said "it's like waving a white flag."
"If police aren't here, criminals feel free to run wild in my city," he continued. "And I'm not going to stand for it."
Jones told KOMO the altercation that injured him happened Saturday night near Fifth Avenue and James Street. Jones, who said he was breaking up a fight, called 911 and put one of the men in a headlock and waited for police, KOMO reported.
Another man pulled out a gun seconds later and when the superhero let go of the man he was holding, that man kicked him in the face and broke his nose, Jones told KOMO.
Jones insisted the attack wasn't a big deal, and that he and other superheroes are much better prepared for confrontations than average citizens.
"I don't condone people walking around on the street with masks," he told seattlepi.com in November. "Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background, and we're well aware of what its costs to do what we do."
Some people who the self-proclaimed superheroes meet on the streets ask for pictures or autographs. Several reality show producers have been desperate to get a hold of Jones for TV offers.
No word on if the superheroes will upgrade from their Kia.
================================
Older Story
Real-Life Superhero Walks Streets, Fighting Crime
Posted: 8:07 am PST January 4, 2011Updated: 8:46 am PST January 4, 2011 source: https://www.kirotv.com/news/26363364/detail.html
LYNNWOOD, Wash. -- A local man said he came within seconds of having his car broken into, and perhaps stolen, until a real-life “superhero" came to his aid, wearing tights, a mask and a skin-tight super suit.
The encounter started in Lynnwood Sunday evening when a man, who asked to be identified only as Dan, was walking back to his car in a parking lot when he saw a man with a metal strip trying to pry open his car.
“He started sticking it down between the window and the rubber strip,” said Dan.
Dan began to call 911, but said help arrived before he even finished dialing.
“From the right, this guy comes dashing in, wearing this skin-tight rubber, black and gold suit, and starts chasing him away,” said Dan.
What Dan didn’t know is that just about every night, an anonymous Seattle man strolls into a comic store, enters a hidden back room and emerges transformed.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Monique Ming Laven met him.
“My name is Phoenix Jones,” said the man.
The man is the hero Dan’s been trying to tell his friends about.
“People are saying, ‘No way, dude, you were probably drunk,’” said Dan.
But the superhero sounded familiar to Ming Laven. She had heard about how he and the other eight members of his Rain City Superhero crime fighting movement walk the street, eyes out for crime and prepared to fight it.
On Monday night, the fully-clad superhero and Dan met.
“That’s crazy. Nice to meet you, brother. Nice to meet you. That’s insane,” said Dan, who finally got a close-up look at his savior.
“Phoenix” explained his whole super suit, including bullet-proof vest and stab plates, to Dan.
“That’s a Taser night stick. And I have Mace slash tear gas over here,” said Phoenix.
Then it was time for Phoenix to get back out on the streets, maybe not quite a super man, but an extraordinary one.
“So when I walk into a neighborhood, criminals leave because they see the suit,” said Phoenix. “I symbolize that the average person doesn't have to walk around and see bad things and do nothing.”
Phoenix said since he started his crime-fighting crusade nine months ago, he's been stabbed, and had a gun pulled on him a few times, but received no serious injuries.
Unfortunately, he didn't catch up with the man who was breaking into Dan's car.
Police say he and others should trade capes for cell phones
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
photo
"Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle," one of the city's self-proclaimed "superheroes," is pictured in this photo from KOMO-TV.
One of Seattle's self-proclaimed superheroes had his nose broken and was threatened at gunpoint Saturday, prompting police to again ask that he and others stop with the costumes and call 911.
The Man of Steel he is not.
Police spokespeople say they heard about the incident from reporters -- Phoenix Jones the Guardian of Seattle talked about the incident Monday with seattlepi.com partner, KOMO/4. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said he isn't aware of a police report regarding the incident.
Some patrol officers have mistaken what they call the "costume-wearing complaints" for criminals, and say in some cases the characters are lucky they haven't been seriously hurt. That confusion prompted police to issue a bulletin to alert patrol officers in November.
"Does Superman get his ass kicked?" one detective asked. "These people should not be called superheroes."
Police noted that and other details about the self-proclaimed superheroes -- including Jones' real name -- in the November bulletin. Seattlepi.com first reported on the recent movement then, including details about Jones' costume with a bulletproof vest, arm and leg trauma plates.
"I endanger my life with a reason and a purpose," Jones told KOMO's Luke Ducey Monday.
On "Good Morning America" last week, Jones said calling 911 is a great start, but said "it's like waving a white flag."
"If police aren't here, criminals feel free to run wild in my city," he continued. "And I'm not going to stand for it."
Jones told KOMO the altercation that injured him happened Saturday night near Fifth Avenue and James Street. Jones, who said he was breaking up a fight, called 911 and put one of the men in a headlock and waited for police, KOMO reported.
Another man pulled out a gun seconds later and when the superhero let go of the man he was holding, that man kicked him in the face and broke his nose, Jones told KOMO.
Jones insisted the attack wasn't a big deal, and that he and other superheroes are much better prepared for confrontations than average citizens.
"I don't condone people walking around on the street with masks," he told seattlepi.com in November. "Everyone on my team either has a military background or a mixed martial arts background, and we're well aware of what its costs to do what we do."
Some people who the self-proclaimed superheroes meet on the streets ask for pictures or autographs. Several reality show producers have been desperate to get a hold of Jones for TV offers.
No word on if the superheroes will upgrade from their Kia.
================================
Older Story
Real-Life Superhero Walks Streets, Fighting Crime
Posted: 8:07 am PST January 4, 2011Updated: 8:46 am PST January 4, 2011 source: https://www.kirotv.com/news/26363364/detail.html
LYNNWOOD, Wash. -- A local man said he came within seconds of having his car broken into, and perhaps stolen, until a real-life “superhero" came to his aid, wearing tights, a mask and a skin-tight super suit.
The encounter started in Lynnwood Sunday evening when a man, who asked to be identified only as Dan, was walking back to his car in a parking lot when he saw a man with a metal strip trying to pry open his car.
“He started sticking it down between the window and the rubber strip,” said Dan.
Dan began to call 911, but said help arrived before he even finished dialing.
“From the right, this guy comes dashing in, wearing this skin-tight rubber, black and gold suit, and starts chasing him away,” said Dan.
What Dan didn’t know is that just about every night, an anonymous Seattle man strolls into a comic store, enters a hidden back room and emerges transformed.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Monique Ming Laven met him.
“My name is Phoenix Jones,” said the man.
The man is the hero Dan’s been trying to tell his friends about.
“People are saying, ‘No way, dude, you were probably drunk,’” said Dan.
But the superhero sounded familiar to Ming Laven. She had heard about how he and the other eight members of his Rain City Superhero crime fighting movement walk the street, eyes out for crime and prepared to fight it.
On Monday night, the fully-clad superhero and Dan met.
“That’s crazy. Nice to meet you, brother. Nice to meet you. That’s insane,” said Dan, who finally got a close-up look at his savior.
“Phoenix” explained his whole super suit, including bullet-proof vest and stab plates, to Dan.
“That’s a Taser night stick. And I have Mace slash tear gas over here,” said Phoenix.
Then it was time for Phoenix to get back out on the streets, maybe not quite a super man, but an extraordinary one.
“So when I walk into a neighborhood, criminals leave because they see the suit,” said Phoenix. “I symbolize that the average person doesn't have to walk around and see bad things and do nothing.”
Phoenix said since he started his crime-fighting crusade nine months ago, he's been stabbed, and had a gun pulled on him a few times, but received no serious injuries.
Unfortunately, he didn't catch up with the man who was breaking into Dan's car.
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