Seattle superhero dodges assault charges

Self-styled superhero Phoenix Jones unmasked himself before the cameras Thursday and vowed to keep fighting crime after prosecutors declined to press assault charges against him in a weekend altercation.

Jones – who told reporters his real name is Ben Fodor – routinely patrols downtown Seattle streets decked out in a skintight black-and-gold rubber suit and mask. He was arrested early Sunday on four counts of assault after police said he attacked a group of people leaving a nightclub with pepper spray. A spokesman for Fodor said he was trying to break up a fight.

Video shot by a documentary crew and posted on Jones’ Facebook page showed a chaotic scene in which the self-styled superhero was being chased by a purse-wielding woman. He then shot what appeared to be pepper spray at a group of people. Fodor was the only person arrested by police.

Seattle police said the city is not in need of vigilante crime fighters, and that Fodor overreacted.

“If you see something that warrants calling 911, call 911. You don’t need to dress up in a costume to do that,” police spokesman Mark Jamieson said.

In court Thursday, Fodor arrived wearing a hood, which a judge’s assistant asked him to remove. When told that charges had not been filed against him, Fodor put the rubber hood back on and exited the court with a swarm of media cameras following him.

Outside the courthouse, Fodor told reporters he would continue his anti-crime patrols.

“In addition to being Phoenix Jones, I am also Ben Fodor, a father and brother,” he said, removing his hood. “I am just like everybody else. The only difference is that I try to stop crime.”

Fodor also said he would invite the public to accompany him on future patrols and then walked off without taking any questions from reporters.

A spokeswoman for the Seattle City Attorney’s office did not immediately respond to questions about whether Fodor could face charges at a later date.