Seattle’s Masked Superhero Loses Job Working With Autistic Kids After Arrest
- Posted on November 3, 2011 at 12:55pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Phoenix Jones, real name Ben Fodor, lost his job working with autistic children after he was arrested for allegedly pepper-spraying a group of people in the course of his self-styled superhero duties. (AP)
Seattle’s self-styled superhero Phoenix Jones lost his job working with autistic children after his arrest on an assault charge last month for allegedly pepper-spraying a crowd.
Jones — real name Benjamin John Francis Fodor — was released on bond after the Oct. 9 incident. He said he was trying to break up a fight and later attacked. He hasn’t been formally charged, though his case remains before a city attorney.
Despite the lack of formal charges, Washington‘s Department of Social and Health Services contacted Fodor’s employer after his arrest and asked he be removed from working with any vulnerable children while his case is pending, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.
“The provider was asked to remove him from any cases that we had,” DSHS spokeswoman Sherry Hill told the newspaper.
As a result, Fodor lost his job working with autistic kids, ranging from age 4 to 18.
“I had to leave work in the middle of the day,” he told Publicola. “It was embarrassing.”
Hill said Fodor is not permanently barred from working with children, but the department wanted to “err on the side of caution” by alerting his employer about the assault investigation.
A spokeswoman for Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said a final decision has not been made about whether to charge Jones. People convicted of assault are legally prohibited from jobs working with vulnerable children and adults, according to the Post-Intelligencer.
Fodor could return to his job if his case is dropped and he is not convicted, Hill said.
Fodor disputed the notion that he is dangerous to children.
“I would say I have a history of fighting crime,” he told Publicola. “The whole point of what I do is to keep people safe.”
Watch Fodor discuss his arrest on Fox News:
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Comments (81)
independentvoteril
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:01pmMaybe it’s time he starts his own PRIVATE school..better to do things as much as you can AWAY from the government.. IF he were teaching my child I would pay him to continue..
Report Post »Pezman
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:07pmSadly, he’d have to face the PC crowd in State Government in order to get the license.
Report Post »robert
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 4:10pmSome are saying black youths need super hero figures in order to turn away from crime and develop morals and ethics that will keep them from committing murders, rapes, robberies and selling drugs, which, hopefully, will reduce the prison population somewhat.
The outlook appears bleak, however, because black youths have a long history of rejecting figures of high moral characters in favor of emulating pimps, drug dealers and criminal rap stars. That WILL NOT change and will only get worse.
The only real solution is to encourage them to convert to Islam, because the only thing the vast majority understand is a strong central authority figure that will come down hard and viciously on them if they get out of line.
Forget super heros. That’s a waste of time, when they’ve got their rap artists who promote killing whitey and offing the pigs, bit**es, and ho’s.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 5:27pmI’d bet $5 cash money that if you looked into the records of all their current employees, you’d find convictions on much worse.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 5:29pm@robert
Thanks for the racist bigotry! Great job. You make TheBlaze look like a really classy place. Don’t you think you could spread your racist hatred somewhere else, please? Progressives usually enjoy your kind of thinking. You’d fit right in at Huffpo or MM.
Report Post »charleyrocks
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 6:46pmI like him you go guy fight for what you believe in you rock!
Report Post »robert
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:17pmJaycen
@robert
“Thanks for the racist bigotry!”
If it‘s true it isn’t racist. Why don’t you offer a rebuttal proving my points wrong?
You can’t, of course, because you have neither the intellect nor is your point valid.
Your “racist” accusatory rants are no more than the result of propaganda instilled in you throughout the years and you’re too dense to understand that.
But, don’t go anywhere else, as you would have me do, it’s important to have examples of how effective the politically correct crowd has been on those too weak-minded to think for themselves.
Report Post »autigers2010champs
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:54pmNo wonder Superman denounced his citizen ship. I love this guy fight on brother and for you that think I am calling him a brother cause he is black I am calling a brother as in doing the right thing.
Report Post »Joseph28
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:12pmIt’s sad you have to explain why you say brother. I 100% agree with you.
Report Post »inferno
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:50pmOne of the most misused word in our day to day commentary is “Vigilante”. The definition of that word is somone who is “vigilant”. not someone who takes action. Even the “alleged” brightest among us use “vigilante” to describe someone like Mr. Jones. I‘m certainly happy I’m not “bright”.
Report Post »FrankWhite
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:04pmWhat dictionary is that from?
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 5:33pmMises Institute put this fantastic article out in their newsletter.
http://mises.org/daily/5560/Are-You-Authorized-to-Defend-Yourself
Report Post »DallyWama
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:49pm@JAKARTAMAN
No. It doesn’t “depend” as the post below yours implies. Every citizen has the right to make an arrest or protect other citizens whose lives are in danger. Being a vigilante is breaking the law to enforce the law. Making a citizens arrest is enforcing the law. Stores have asset protection specialists who arrest people for shoplifting. They are essentially making a citizens arrest. A vigilante usually doesn’t see the crime.
Report Post »inferno
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:46pmHe changed the DHS motto from ‘If you see something say something”, to“ If you see something Do something”. Great idea !
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:53pmI agree.. sounds like a better plan the BIG SIS has..LOL..
Report Post »Houston
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:59pmHeck yes! That is exactly what we as Americans need to do. When we see something, DO SOMETHING!
Forget the nanny state bullcrap. We need to take care of our own communities instead of giving the government more and more power for them to abuse.
Report Post »zurie
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:34pmI wish I was rolling in money. Because I would bankroll this guy if I was. Phoenix Car, Phoenix Cave, Phoenix-a-rangs. Anything he needed.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:43pmThis is exactly why Batman had to keep his identity a secret.
Report Post »ryan
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:32pmalthough being a vigilante was silly, he shouldn’t lose his job. IF he has the gift of helping autistic kids, then he should.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:27pmI won’t touch this one….
Report Post »chazman
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:39pm… damn superhero’s …
Report Post »George Patton
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:24pmOnly a government approved person can fight crime…the police. If you don’t have the government credentials you are not allowed to do good. On a side note I am so tired of hearing how police are “trained” professionals so they are capable of driving at insane speeds and they are more qualified to use a gun. The “trained” crap is nothing more than justification for them being absolutely unsafe or for preventing the “untrained” the exercise of their rights.
This “untrained” crimefighter, phoenix jones, as an ex mma fighter has more training than most cops…it is just not training from a government approved trainer so it’s apparently not valid.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:07pmI have a question.
Report Post »I am a licensed concealed gun carrier.
If I was around where some bad guys were shooting/killing unarmed civilians.
Would I be justified in bring the bad guy(s) down or would I be arrested for interfering with the bad guys right to kill?
George Patton
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:31pmThat depends. The person winning the fight may not necessarily be the aggressor. Maybe an unarmed gang of 5 people attacked a man with a concealed carry weapon and fearing for his life he drew on the 5 men and started shooting. Then you come around the corner and all you see is a man blasting 5 unarmed men and you shoot him dead.
Report Post »jcannon98188
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:01pmGeorge Patton brings up a good point. Which is what Police have to deal with to. The proper way would be to draw your weapon on the shooter, and give him a chance to surrender “Drop your weapon! Get on the ground!” If the shooter turns the gun towards you then it is perfectly acceptable in my opinion to speak to his heart and to his mind (2 to the heart, 1 to the mind :) ). However it would not be acceptable to just open fire on him, because as George pointed out we don’t know the whole story.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:03pmApparently he was working for a contractor who had a contract with WA DSHS?
“Phoenix Jones has worked for a company contracted by DSHS for the past five years, until last week, when he got a letter from the state.” And the federal 60 day notification was violated? Oh my, I want to be a lawyer.
Now I wonder if the state has a contractual term and condition for disallowing superheros on their own personal time?
WA state, the biggest gov’t of them all…they are into everyone’s business, regulations so deep that the state has become dysfunctional…and now they want to raid the rainy day fund of 300M to help pay for their employees. Yep, so much for disasters and a rainy day fund, eh?
And they want the citizens to vote yes on that? LOL.
Buffoons at the helm of the ship, no doubt!
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:56pmIn Obama’s new Socialist Nanny state – no good deed goes unpunished.
Report Post »The cop union probably is pushing this.
disgusting – but we are talking about west coast Seattle – Duh!
Drakkhanlord
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:55pmKeep doing what ya have to do Phoenix Jones…
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:53pmThis guy has some SERIOUS issues.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:00pmEspecially with a last name Fodor. His cousin’s name is Tudor. Same but smaller.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 2:07pm“I teach basic life skills to autistic children,” said Jones. “Stuff like balancing a checkbook, if you want to go shopping at the mall, how to figure out how much money to spend, how to balance money for the entire month, how to survive with your autism that you have.”
Yep that’s some serious issues about his employment life, eh? His private life is his…there is NO FREEDOM in WA State…
Report Post »deerjerkydave
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:39pmThe public police department is entitled to crime fighting. He’s doing their job for free so they are looking for any reason to bring him down.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:43pmAs I said below (which you may not have read), but its not the police’s job to fight crime (thats the civilian’s job) it is the police’s job to catch and punish criminals.
Report Post »TiocFaidhArLa
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:34pmGod bless him! We need more heroes….
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:39pm…but where’s a guy supposed to get his crack?
Report Post »jrcess
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:33pmTypical Kaffer. sheeeez
Report Post »pjmarshake
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:36pmGo back to apartheid South Africa and stay there.
Report Post »pjmarshake
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:38pmUsing the another term to hide your racism from the screening system does not hide the fact that you are an idiot.
Report Post »KeithOlbermann
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:33pmI knew the economy was bad, but when a superhero can’t find work, America’s got a problem. Thanks Obama.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:56pmthis is the same seattle garbage that keeps the schools superintendent hired after dui‘s same with local officers domestic violence and dui’s but super hero? got to go
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:27pmSort of an odd fellow but if he dedicates his work to help disadvantaged kids, I support the guy. He should have got a slap on the wrist for the pepper spray and sent on his way. Remember, this is not chemical spray or mase, its what we eat on hot wings.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:37pmIts sad to see that real heroes or real people are no longer role models and heroes to kids, they have been replaced with fictional characters all with some kind of super powers which do not exist. We have watered down the reality of the human experience in this way. Integrity, Honor, Committment, Courage still need to be championed as the real super human powers that man will ever know.
Report Post »imreddog
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:38pmWhen I first saw this story, I thought that this guy is really weird (i before e?)… and he is to some extent. Then I heard his interview. His heart is in the right place. My thoughts are that he should be persuaded to stay off of the streets and go to where he can do the most good….. working with children. Children will absolutely love this guy and maybe he can lead them in the right direction. Then, I saw this story about him losing his job… not good. Maybe some of the schools could invite him to talk to the students. Just a thought.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:41pmHe is fantastic, full disclosure he is a personal friend. I watched the video his friends took of the alleged assault. he was beaten by a drunk woman in seattle while trying to protect others. he is fully trained to do this an ex mma fighter with training in de-escalation tactics. he is a wonderful but odd or unique human being and this is a tragedy. video of the assault she is claiming is here below http://vimeo.com/30307440 you watch this drunk woman repeatedly hitting him and he refuses to hurt her or restrain her, she is the one who filed charges
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:19pmWhether or not you agree with how this man handles “community service” that fact is, he was trying to do good, and it came back and bit him in the butt.. I respect his desire to help others, but he found out the hard way, our country punishes those who try to help others. “No Good Deed Goes Un-Punished”.
Our government doesn’t want us to help each other, the government wants a monopoly on helping others. And will punish anyone who gets in their way. Remember, when you need help now, the police are only 20 minutes away…
So remember friends, next time you see someone in need of help (I.E.: being raped, robbed, or assaulted) just leave them be, less our “authorities” blame you.
Its a sad state of affairs, but this is the country of frivolous lawsuits where a woman can sue McDonalds for HER spilling coffee on herself, or a 7/11 -or- CVS can fire its employees for defending themselves. Its only a matter of time (and I assume its probably happened somewhere already) before you are arrested for not just sitting by and letting a criminal break in and rob your home and rape your family.
Watch your backs America, because we know our “authorities” are not doing it for us.
In fact a former Indiana Sheriff told me (with a straight face) that it is the job of police to punish those who break the law, NOT to serve or protect. He said if you need protection, that’s your job…
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:25pmUnfortunately that sheriff is telling the truth. The cops don’t prevent crime, they just come and draw the chalk outline around your body after the fact, which is yet another reason why the 2nd Amendment is so important.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:41pmAs bad as it sounds, it makes sense. I understand you cannot arrest or detain someone unless THEY HAVE ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING WRONG. So I don’t argue with that philosophy. I know I would not want to be arrested for THINKING about doing something bad (but I do understand being arrested FOR doing something bad).
I just wish that everyone was aware of this. When you see “To Protect and Serve” written on the side of squad cars, I know its there to make people “feel” better. Cause I‘m sure it wouldn’t go over well to paint “To Suspect and Punish” on the side of their cars.
I just wish the police were more forward with the general population who are under the false assumption that police are there to ensure their safety. I understand their current standpoint, and to be honest I agree with it. I have spent over 15 years learning various martial arts so I can “Protect and Serve” myself so I won’t have to rely on the police. And I strongly feel that everyone else should do the same. Typically (not always), people become victims because they allow themselves too.
I will not be one of those.. And neither should any of you (and I know most of you won’t be…)
Report Post »Tronix
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 9:26pmProbably you are right, but I have a problem, I just can’t walk away……I can‘t forgive myself if I don’t help somebody in need, and nobody else is near to do it. I´ve thought this many times, and one must to be extremely careful, especially those with CCW, and act wisely with calm, but walking away is hardly an option to me. I’m not a brave superhero or something, and I’m not reckless ; I just don’t feel good with myself if I do that.
Report Post »Morgue
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:18pmThis is why superheroes have SECRET identities. Haven’t you seen The Incredibles?
Sorry Benjamin John Francis Fodor, but you can’t “fight crime” without being sued or arrested for doing the right thing.
Report Post »Harry Assenback
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:18pmVann Jones is that you??????????
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:33pmNo, remember, the guy was trying to good, not destroy the country.
Report Post »SmallGovBigGuns
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:36pmhahahaha that is exactly what i thought. if it was van jones i would definately make a villian costume, fly to seattle and battle him.
Report Post »pjmarshake
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:14pmGood initiative… Bad judgement.
Report Post »scoter
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:02pmhttp://www.helpfireobama.com Please give $20.12
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:13pmThat figures…..If he was one of these activest teachers helping to burn Oakland they wouldn’t think twice about letting him keep his job. He needs to head down to Oakland (Cookeland) anyway and start kicking some ass down there.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:21pmThat’s where my mind immediately jumped to also. The good guys get punished while the Commies get whatever they’re throwing a fit for today.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:01pmHe’s awesome.
Report Post »I am 'We the People
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:15pmAgreed!
Report Post »Stupid bureaucracy messing with people rights, and responsibilities…
jb.kibs
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:22pmyeah. i agree with him, he used spray to break up a fight… how is he “violent”? please… what a joke
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:24pm@V-MAN….Is that you?
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:36pmThis is absolutly overkill. You have administrators in positions that can be deleted, but to show how bad they are needed, they turn out crappy decisions like this. Now we have one more fine American out of work.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 1:45pmNaw that ain’t me. His costume is better than mine! I just cover my face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBVVfed4cpA
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on November 3, 2011 at 6:08pm@V-MAN…..I think I understand what you are angry about. The same thing ****** me off also.
Do you hate all cops? There are good cops out there, more than the bad. And yes there are bad cops.
Report Post »What I don’t understand is, do you advocate having no police at all? No system such as the TSA to keep lunatics from blowing up airplanes? I agree what the TSA does now is B.S. ….But we do need some type of system in place for our protection….If not it would just be anarchy….like the wild west.
I lived in the middle of the L.A. riots when the police were unavailable, yea I was able to protect myself, but that was about it, life as we knew it stoped for about a week. I pretty much just had to stay home and protect my family.
What is your solution to the nazi’s as you call them?
V-MAN MACE
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:24amI’ve never met a “good” cop. There are no good people. We’re all sinners.
I don’t hate people. I hate actions.
There’s plenty of us with guns to not need police, increasingly the public cannot afford their services, and even more increasingly they exist for revenue generation, not protecting the public. I can save those tax dollars and get myself a nice rifle or something, or a nice Desert Eagle .50 cal. Whatever I want to spend the money on. I can spend my money more wisely than the government. I don’t want my tax dollars going into my own surveillance and the salaries of my prison guards, or their expansion, militarization, and federalization.
9-11 was an inside job. Abolish the TSA.
Report Post »