Rampage Jackson Flees Car Crash And Gets Arrested

Fozzy · 16-07-2008 12:29AM #1

This news is too big to keep on the MMA thread I think...

According to TMZ.com, Rampage was arrested a little while ago for fleeing a car crash. Link: http://www.tmz.com/2008/07/15/cops-say-jackson-went-on-rampage/

Cops Say Jackson Went On Rampage

Posted Jul 15th 2008 6:57PM by TMZ Staff

Former UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson got busted just minutes ago, and is currently in custody on the way to the clink, but not before he was ordering on the ground, cops nearby with guns drawn.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Rampage was in a car crash near Newport Beach (that's near Laguna Beach in the O.C.) and then split the scene. Cops gave chase and eventually caught up and charged him with felony hit and run and felony evading arrest.

Here's the deal about the dumbest hit and run ever. Notice the truck he tried evading police in -- the one with the giant picture of him plastered on the side!

We're told there could be additional charges. No word yet on whether Rampage resisted arrest.

Bad week. He got his ass handed to him last week (courtesy of Forrest Griffin) and just got it handed to him again.

Story developing ...

I was hoping that there was some mistake, but this sure looks like Rampage:

There's more pics here: http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/rampage_arrested He was driving a pickup truck with his picture on the side. It's definitely him judging from the one where he's in the cop car. He completely lost a tire trying to flee them

Obviously this isn't good for him or for the UFC. It'll be interesting to see what they have to say... It's not as if there's much ambiguity as to what happened from looking at those photos. A real pity

EDIT: A bit more info from the Wrestling Observer:

Quinton Jackson was pulled over this afternoon and taken to police headquarters after a car accident near Newport Beach, CA. He's been charged with felony hit and run, reckless driving and felony evading arrest.

According to the Costa Mesa police, an officer observed him driving with a flat tire and talking on his cell phone and attempted to pull him over. He ignored the officer and continued driving with the officer in pursuit. Police had received a report of a vehicle with his photo on it involved in a collision on the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa, that struck other vehicles and fled the scene, according to Lt. Paul Dondero.

The chase continued with the vehicle weaving in and out of traffic, including at one point driving on the wrong side of the road and even on a sidewalk, scaring pedestrians.

The officer saw the vehicle in a second collision while driving toward Newport Beach. Nobody was believed to have been injured in the collisions.

The car continued to Newport Beach where the tire blew out and came off the rim and he was taken into the Orange County jail, where he is being held on $25,000 bail.

UFC president Dana White flew to Orange County upon getting the word of Jackson's arrest and was driving to the county jail, believed to be to post bond.

dunkamania · 16-07-2008 08:36AM

OMFG

UFC willl be thanking its lucky stars that Rampage just lost the title

16-07-2008 09:20AM

I wonder what could possibly have happened to make him keep driving? Hope there's nothing worse behind it.

Dragan · 16-07-2008 09:39AM

Jesus ****ing Christ.

Is the old Rampage finally back?

Sorry.....bad joke.

dunkamania · 16-07-2008 10:01AM

Ironic the sponsor on the truck being Toyo tires, and one of the tires having being destroyed, probably not the positive marketing image they were looking for.

16-07-2008 10:08AM

Dragan wrote: »

Jesus ****ing Christ.

Is the old Rampage finally back?

Sorry.....bad joke.

Banned. :pac:

Actually...while we're at it.......i thought it was an early stoppage myself, Rampage looks like he could have continued!

16-07-2008 10:09AM

dunkamania wrote: »

Ironic the sponsor on the truck being Toyo tires, and one of the tires having being destroyed, probably not the positive marketing image they were looking for.

LOL yea was lookin at the irony of that! I bet their PR department have a fun day ahead!

dunkamania · 16-07-2008 10:23AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Actually...while we're at it.......i thought it was an early stoppage myself, Rampage looks like he could have continued!

16-07-2008 10:32AM

From TMZ:

As TMZ first reported, the just-defeated UFC champ was busted this afternoon for alleged felony hit and run. Now we have the details -- and they're insane! Rampage was on the 55 Freeway in the O.C., hit two cars and got off the freeway. The chase was on.

Rampage then began driving on the center divider. But it gets worse. According to the police report, Jackson then drove on the sidewalk, "causing pedestrians to flee for their lives." He started driving the wrong way on a crowded street, colliding with yet another car in an intersection. As he continued on, running several red lights, his tire disintegrated and he began driving on the rim.

Rampage eventually got to the exclusive Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, where he again drove on the sidewalk, "causing pedestrians to flee in terror."

Eventually, his car came to a stop and he was taken into custody at gunpoint. Cops took him to the Orange County Jail, but they determined he was "medically unfit" to be booked. Cops won't say if he was high.

Rampage is currently in an O.C. hospital.

Killme00 · 16-07-2008 10:38AM

Sounds like he is shooting a movie.

Fozzy · 16-07-2008 10:46AM

but they determined he was "medically unfit" to be booked

I read in another report last night that the cops said that there were no signs of alcohol or drug use. Here's one that says that: http://mmajunkie.com/news/4812/details-and-exclusive-photos-of-quinton-jacksons-allleged-felony-hit-and-run.mma

To be honest, the first thing I thought was that it was filming for the A-Team movie

Kazooie · 16-07-2008 12:55PM

Wonder how he thought he'd escape with a huge picture of himself on the truck!

Could work out well for ufc publicity wise. People love this bad boy stuff!

hardCopy · 16-07-2008 01:10PM

This is truly bizarre. I never got any impression that Rampage was a nut-job.

Rampage by name, Rampage by nature I suppose.

From sherdog:

16-07-2008 02:57PM

New article which appears to rubbish the hospitalised rumour.

UFC light heavyweight Quinton Jackson, who was arrested on Tuesday after an alleged hit-and-run accident and subsequent police chase, has posted bail and left the Orange County jail.

The Costa Mesa Police Department confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) this morning.

After being arrested for felony evading, hit-and-run and reckless driving, Jackson posted bail, which had been set at $25,000, overnight.

Jackson allegedly hit multiple cars during a short police chase Tuesday afternoon. He eventually pulled over and surrendered to police after traveling from Costa Mesa to Newport Beach in California. No injuries were reported.

According to a press release from the Costa Mesa Police Department, Jackson ignored an officer's directions to pull over and continued "weaving in and out of traffic" while forcing "pedestrians to flee for their lives" as he continued "running several red lights."

Police initially told MMAjunkie.com that neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected to have played a role in the incident.

UFC president Dana White arrived in California on Tuesday via private plane, presumably to post bail for Jackson.

Additionally, according to fiveouncesofpain.com, reports that Jackson has been hospitalized appear unfounded.

Fozzy · 16-07-2008 04:15PM

There's a short video here of him being cuffed: http://www.tmz.com/tmz_main_video?titleid=1670053877

It's not the most technical knee-ride I've ever seen, but it did the job!

dunkamania · 16-07-2008 04:51PM

Disappointed that Rampage gave up his back so easy :rolleyes:

Dragan · 16-07-2008 05:19PM

dunkamania wrote: »

Disappointed that Rampage gave up his back so easy :rolleyes:

Better than him ending up in the clinch! Those coppers apparently have MT skillz.:pac:

dlofnep · 16-07-2008 05:44PM

Total scumbag. What on earth was he up to.

Dragan · 16-07-2008 05:59PM

dlofnep wrote: »

Total scumbag. What on earth was he up to.

No idea, and lots of conflicting reports as well. The sherdog article has one of the coppers quoted as describing Page as being "upset" at the time. He eventually only stopped outside the house of a training partner as well, not some random road.

Might be nothing, might be something!

Fozzy · 16-07-2008 07:32PM

While I think that the UFC won't cut him, I do think that this will give some journalists the chance to attempt to use it as an indictment of MMA. Not that it has anything to do with MMA, it's fairly tame compared to some of the stuff other American sportspeople have gotten up to in the last year

I was watching Setanta Sports News at 7, I saw the UFC graphic coming up so I watched to see if they'd mention Rampage. They didn't, just something about Irvin wantin to beat Silva. I'm pretty sure that their UFC news is controlled by the UFC itself

cletus · 16-07-2008 07:34PM

I keep waiting for the punchline/setup/funny wind up ending to this story.

Doesn't look like its coming:(

edit: thats hardly Rampages radio playing Canned Heat

:):)

dlofnep · 16-07-2008 08:17PM

Dragan wrote: »

No idea, and lots of conflicting reports as well. The sherdog article has one of the coppers quoted as describing Page as being "upset" at the time. He eventually only stopped outside the house of a training partner as well, not some random road.

Might be nothing, might be something!

He's a scumbag. Who cares if he was upset? He drove like a maniac, after a hit and run - driving directly at people who had to flee out of the way.

The police report has documented it well.

He's filth. End of story. People tried to defend another scumbag in Lee Murray after he robbed a bank. I'll defend MMA, but I won't defend scumbags like this.

Nothingcompares · 16-07-2008 08:36PM

Hit and run? That could simply mean he knocked the wing mirror of someone's car and instead of doing the decent thing he drove off like it didn't happen. I'd be reluctant to brand him a scumbag and wipe my hands of him before I've heard facts.

Fozzy · 16-07-2008 08:39PM

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Hit and run? That could simply mean he knocked the wing mirror of someone's car and instead of doing the decent thing he drove off like it didn't happen. I'd be reluctant to brand him a scumbag and wipe my hands of him before I've heard facts.

The police report says that he crashed into three cars, drove the wrong way up a road and drove on the path. I'll post it up here in a minute

Here it is:

A Motor Officer was monitoring traffic at the intersection of Newport Blvd and Broadway. He saw Jackson driving sound bound weaving in and out of traffic, with a flat front left tire speaking on his cell phone. The Motor Officer activated his lights and siren and initiated a traffic stop. Jackson ignored the Motor Officer and continued south bound on 17th weaving in and out of traffic to avoid being stopped.

Jackson drove over the raised center portion of the roadway at Cabrillo Ave. He lost control and drove up onto the sidewalk causing pedestrians to flee for their lives. Jackson regained control and continued southbound in the northbound lanes of Newport Blvd. As he crossed through the intersection with 17th St, he collided with a vehicle legally in the intersection. Jackson continued south bound on Newport Blvd running several red lights. The rubber from his left tire began to disintegrate at the PCH overpass. Jackson continued southbound onto the Balboa Peninsula running several more red lights, causing pedestrians to flee in terror. Jackson’s vehicle finally came to a stop at 18th St and Newport Blvd in the city of Newport Beach. Jackson was taken into custody by Costa Mesa Officers without incident.

Jackson was transported to the Costa Mesa City Jail and booked for; Felony Evading, Reckless Driving and Hit and Run. He was transported to the Orange County Jail and is being held in lieu of a $25,000.00 bail.

Prior to Motor Officer Barnes actions, Jackson had been involved in two separate collisions on the south bound 55 FWY. The CHP is taking those reports.

Jackson is a former Ultimate Fighting Champion title holder and fought under the name Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

Nothingcompares · 16-07-2008 08:49PM

I don't beleive that that is a police report. Again, rampage seemed to have broken a few lights and drove down a one way street and scratched a few parked cards. I'm sure he has a legitimate reason. Diabetic?

Fozzy · 16-07-2008 08:58PM

Nothingcompares wrote: »

I don't beleive that that is a police report. Again, rampage seemed to have broken a few lights and drove down a one way street and scratched a few parked cards. I'm sure he has a legitimate reason. Diabetic?

It's from the official press release that the police department released. If you don't believe me you can check it yourself at their website: http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/cmpdpress.htm It's the first link on that page

It seems like it's more than you're making it out to be. He could have easily hit a pedestrian or more seriously damaged a car by the sounds of it

Fozzy · 17-07-2008 12:50AM

His court date is set for August 15th. He faces charges of a felony evading charge, wreckless driving and hit and run: http://www.presstelegram.com/moresports/ci_9900910

The maximum penalty he could face is one year in prison as far as I can tell

Nothingcompares · 17-07-2008 01:23AM

rampage is innocent until proven guilty, i don't understand why you're all so quick to smear his good name

Fozzy · 17-07-2008 01:38AM

Nothingcompares wrote: »

rampage is innocent until proven guilty, i don't understand why you're all so quick to smear his good name

I know that, but seriously, what reasonable explanation is there for him to have been seen by a police officer driving on the wrong side of the road, on a path, and to have shredded a tire while the cop chased him? If he was under the influence of drugs then his sentence will be harsher. If he was depressed and in a bad state of mind they won't find him not guilty

Maybe you're messin, I don't know, your video's not workin :pac:

Nothingcompares · 17-07-2008 02:09AM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cDDEhLw1PVI

Charlie3dan · 17-07-2008 09:03AM

Obviously it's hard to think of any justification for this, but I would think it's always best to reserve judgements until hearing both sides of the story.

Rampage Jackson Flees Car Crash And Gets Arrested

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