Rampage Jackson Taken into Custody Again...CONFIRMED

by Luke Thomas on Jul 17, 2008 1:51 PM EDT in News

Sources say last night an Irvine police car was waved down by people near the place Rampage was staying who said he was acting weird. This, of course, following the insane chase the day before in which the UFC fighter hit several cars in his monster truck and was arrested at gunpoint.

We're told Irvine cops saw Rampage, deemed him a danger to himself and others, and took him to a hospital for observation.

Cops won't officially confirm if it's a psychiatric hold.

BloodyElbow.com is trying to confirm if this is true or not. Stay tuned. Props to the folks in the FanPosts for being on top of this.

Mike Chiapetta has the scoop:

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was admitted to a hospital on Wednesday for a mental health evaluation following an incident in which he was exhibiting "unusual behavior," Irvine, Calif., police Lt. Rick Handfield told NBCSports.com on Thursday.

This incident came on the heels of Tuesday's arrest following a car chase in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Handfield said that a passing officer was flagged down on a city street at about 4:30 pm on Wednesday, and one of the people at the residence who was an acquaintance or relative of his told police they were "concerned about some alarming statements and unusual behavior he was exhibiting."

The responding officer spoke to Jackson, who was cooperative, and officers detained him and transported him to a local hospital for a mental evaluation.

Handfield said Jackson is not being charged with any crime, and was considered a "mental health detainment."

Jackson's present status is unclear, as California's HIPAA laws guarding medical privacy preclude police from giving any further information.

UFC did not immediately return calls for comment.

[UPDATE] by Nick Thomas - Dana White's first interview since the Rampage arrest (KLOS in L.A.) (7/16):

[UPDATE] by Michael Rome - Dave Melter has the details:

According to Lt. Rick Handfield of the Irvine, CA, police department, an officer was pulled over while driving past Jackson's house in the city, and a friend of Jackson's asked for help. He told the officer he was worried about the fighter's behavior.

The officer made contact with Jackson, evaluated him, and asked him to come to the hospital for observation. Jackson was completely cooperative with the officer at all times.

Due to HIPPA laws, the department is not allowed to release any information about what the evaluation entailed or discovered.

From what I can tell, a friend was worried about his behavior and wanted police to check his mental health. It's a far cry from an arrest.

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Hmm…could this be acting on the part of Rampage? I mean this would solidfy him as definitely not be in the right frame of mind for the initial incident. Then again, the guy could really be going throw some problems right now mentally.

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Jul 17, 2008 11:17 AM EDT 0 recs

All my love goes out to Rampage. I really feel for him. If I were a Man of God like he is, I would definitely Pray for him.

by AnonymousA on Jul 17, 2008 11:19 AM EDT 0 recs

I feel for him too. I hope he gets the medical attention he needs, despite the stigma that mental illness gets. I don’t know him, but I have yet to hear anything bad about his character. Regardless of whether there is a mental issue here or not, there is a reason he is not acting like himself, and I hope he recovers.

by nicolenadia on Jul 17, 2008 11:37 AM EDT 0 recs

Rampage is living up to his name

He is acting like the Mike Tyson of MMA. Good thing he dropped the belt to Forrest in the nick of time. If he did this when he was LHW champion, Dana would be shitting a brick.

by thetakeover on Jul 17, 2008 11:47 AM EDT 0 recs

Like, can we stop this? If he has legitimate mental illness, can we be a little more understanding? The truth is we HAVE NO IDEA what’s going on, so save the condemnatory stuff for Pacman Jones.

by Luke Thomas on Jul 17, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

Wow, what a downward spiral...

That loss took a toll on him. It sucks to not be called “Champ” any longer by friends and strangers. Fame’s a bitter pill.

by cyph on Jul 17, 2008 11:48 AM EDT 0 recs

That loss really messed with his head…He seemed too cool when he lost. Poor guy.

by IHateMMA on Jul 17, 2008 11:57 AM EDT 0 recs

Rampage on a Rampage

What a nutjob lol. Dana needs to tear up that contract right fucking now. Rampage has no business being associated with MMA. Over at Fightlinker they have a link to a report that some lady is gonna sue him for damage to herself and her unborn baby. She was one of the people he hit before the pigs noticed him. He hit a pregnant woman driving a car!!!! LOL and people want to defend him.

by MrNiceGuyMMA on Jul 17, 2008 11:57 AM EDT 0 recs

No one is saying he's a great guy

We’re just reserving our comments until all the facts are in.

This isn’t the UG or Sherdog. You have to act like an adult here. Consider this a formal warning.

by Luke Thomas on Jul 17, 2008 11:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

He sidelined her 2007 Cadillac Escalade. I am sure she was not harmed one bit. She is just trying to get some money from a semi-famous person. If you look at Rampage’s truck there is not much damage to it other than the flat tire.

Let’s try not to jump to conclusions, again, we do not have all the facts. In America, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. Let’s try to give him benefit of the doubt.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Jumping to conclusions goes both ways

I am sure she was not harmed one bit. She is just trying to get some money from a semi-famous person. If you look at Rampage’s truck there is not much damage to it other than the flat tire.

Don’t judge the victim without knowing the whole story either.

by thetakeover on Jul 17, 2008 1:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

The article says....

that she and her unborn baby are both unharmed

Being that she was also in a large vehicle, I seriously doubt she was injured. I can make that assumption based on the information provided.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Pardon me

the article says that the accident may have injured her and her unborn baby

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I love the closet tough guys coming out of nowhere to judge him. Can you wait until we get the whole story first before you get on the pulpit? Nobody is defending him, some people just want the whole story first. Christ.

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

And this story certainly has much left untold.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Jul 17, 2008 3:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Damn, could this and the driving incident get any more blown out of proportion?

Our society is far to litigious. Somebody scraped my car, I’m getting paid! Who files a civil suit the day after the incident? I would think you would want to see the results of the criminal charges and get the facts before filing.

As for Rampage, I would never condone what he did, even if it was the result of bad medication. However, he hasn’t done anything so terrible, and doing things like comparing him to Mike Tyson, is not very smart.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jul 17, 2008 12:16 PM EDT 0 recs

No offense to the frontpagers

But commenters have every right to judge Rampage by his actions. Yes, he may have a mental illness. Yes, he may be under the influence of a substance. Yes, we don’t have all the facts. But there’s nothing wrong with pointing out that a hit and run arrest is a bad thing—for Rampage, for the UFC, and for society. Hopefully this kind of discussion isn’t banned in this forum, because that is one of the reasons I come here (not just for the cool fight jpegs, though those are nice too). I think that reasonable speculation about the impact of this incident is a far cry from the racism, sexism, and homophobia found on some of the other MMA boards which I purposely don’t frequent.

My two cents.

by thetakeover on Jul 17, 2008 12:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Absolutely

He did a bad thing, no question. He may have had a good reason, but he did put people in harm’s way. That’s unacceptable. But it’s unseemly to hammer him at this juncture. Clearly he made a very big and potentially costly mistake. But we don’t have much to base an opinion from. Patience is a virtue.

by Luke Thomas on Jul 17, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fighter bashing is a high crime at other websites too.

by zeroword on Jul 17, 2008 1:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Luke and co. also have every right to censor every comment left on this blog.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Jul 17, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s one thing to post the kind of things you said, another to go on about how Rampage should be thrown in jail, fired, etc for what he’s done when we don’t know the surrounding circumstances. State of mind and surrounding circumstances are CRITICAL in criminal law, and to make judgments without knowing everything makes no sense. Not to mention comparing him to Mike Tyson, who raped a woman!

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 12:31 PM EDT 0 recs

This is the part of breaking news that I absolutely hate. You get part fact, part fiction, no one knows what’s what, but everyone and their dog decides to give their two cents or give judgements. The reality is, we don’t know Rampage’s mental state. We don’t know what he’ll be charged with. What we do know, is that what he did was wrong. Can we please wait for the facts to come out before we start calling for Rampage’s head? Rampage has family and friends that are all being effected by this. Let’s please reserve judgement, because if you were in Rampage’s shoes, you’d want the same thing. Empathy please.

by pud333 on Jul 17, 2008 12:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Point taken

I was referring to the demonization of athletes in the media spotlight and point at cases from other sports, but in no way am I meaning to imply that what Rampage did was as bad as raping a woman like Tyson.

by thetakeover on Jul 17, 2008 12:59 PM EDT 0 recs

My prayers are with Rampage.

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Jul 17, 2008 1:03 PM EDT 0 recs

As someone who has both personally and through my family had to deal with mental illness in the past – if that is indeed a factor here – I hope Jackson is willing and able to get some help and straighten himself out. It’s a terrible thing to not be able to control your own actions, to know in some part of your brain that what you’re doing doesn’t make sense, but to be powerless against the other part of your brain that has gone sideways. And I also hope that his family can rally together to help both each other and Jackson; they’ve gotta be going through hell right now.

by AJB on Jul 17, 2008 1:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Same here (though not to the extent of bipolar). I really hope if that’s the case he is able to get through this.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Jul 17, 2008 3:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Damn, I am really worried about the guy.

by Popetastic on Jul 17, 2008 1:16 PM EDT 0 recs

I was worried when I saw those pictures of him partying in Vegas…that is a life he left a long time ago, and it looks like he reverted back to it as a result of the depression from losing. I seriously doubt it’s some kind of chronic mental disorder, but he’s in bad shape right now. I probably overreacted to the commenter earlier, but this is a guy who has basically given his life for our entertainment, I don’t think it’s asking that much to be supportive when he’s in such a bad spot.

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 1:18 PM EDT 0 recs

You were not out of line Michael

http://tharealness.wordpress.com/

by Tha Realness on Jul 17, 2008 1:23 PM EDT 0 recs

Apparently were the only one making a big deal of this.

I religiously watch ESPN and have yet to see a report on this. I hope for his sake he gets better.

by nitro on Jul 17, 2008 1:26 PM EDT 0 recs

They mentioned him in the opening of PTI yesterday, then just made fun of him for about 10 seconds at the end of the show. Weird.

by Chris Nelson on Jul 17, 2008 1:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

If this was someone’s friend, they wouldn’t be turning their back on him and calling for him to lose his job, etc. You’d be there to support him and help him through tough times.

by Mike Fagan on Jul 17, 2008 1:26 PM EDT 0 recs

We don't know these people...

Maybe they wouldn’t.

by Jiiri on Jul 17, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

I asked the question.

The other day I asked the question about people filing lawsuits claiming injury to get money out of Rampage.

My question was wouldn’t that make it a felony hit and run charge.

Well it appears the serious injury has now came to light.

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/07/16/publicsafety/dpt-jacksonfolo071708.txt

I thought this might happen.

So I’ll ask the question again.

Does that make it at least one count of felony hit and run?

I say at least because I think for every lawsuit that happens they will have to claim an injury to win money.

Every injury means another count of felony hit and run.

I’m thinking it might even get worse for him as more people come forward with lawsuits claiming injury.

Any thoughts?

by mattman73 on Jul 17, 2008 1:51 PM EDT 0 recs

the lawsuit will not affect whether it is felony hit and run. The only thing that will affect that is if the injury is significant enough that it can be proven as an element in court. There’s two things to look at:

1) If a DA goes for felony hit and run, he has to prove that there was an injury. If he lost that element, he’d lose the whole charge. Unless it is a legitimate injury, it is a very risky proposition.

2) There is a higher standard for guilt in criminal trials than in civil trials. In a lawsuit, she’d only have to prove it is more likely than not she was injured by the hit and run. In a criminal trial, the DA would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rampage injured her.

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't disagree with ya but....

But the article hints at the same thing I am.

Jackson could face felony charges of a hit and run because Griggs was taken to the hospital for minor injuries, Hink said. In an e-mail sent to the Daily Pilot, Griggs said she and her unborn baby, 16 and a half weeks along, were injured but was not sure to what extent.

I just think it is a possibility that has to be considered.

I agree with your take on it being a risk to go after the felony charge and not being able to prove the injury but she went to the hospital and in civil suits they seem to always find a doctor willing to testify there is a serious injury when there may not be.

I’m sure she will have a lawyer that can find a doctor that says she has an injury.

Not saying she don’t have a serious injury or anything I’m just thinking hypothetically.

I’m trying not to judge her specifically I’m just thinking of possibilities.

by mattman73 on Jul 17, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

you can be sure that if there was in fact an injury it would have been “noticed” when she went in to the hospital

Can she use a post traumatic stress disorder as an injury?

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

You’re mixing up the way the law works. Her lawyer won’t be finding any doctors in the criminal case. She would only be involved in the criminal case to the extent that the D.A. asks her to be.

Is it possible that the D.A. could use the hospital reports to prove the injury element? Yes.

However the way the law works is that they only get one crack at charging a person for an offense (double jeopardy). An offense includes all lessor offenses.

So in this case, if the D.A. brought felony charges and then was unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, in the minds of the jury, that Rampage injured the girl, then not only would Rampage be found not guilty of the felony hit and run, but he could not be tried for the misdemeanor hit and run in the future.

That is a risk that the D.A. probably wouldn’t want to take in a normal incident, let alone a high profile incident, in which any mistake made would be magnified ten fold.

As to lovingmma25’s question about post traumatic stress disorder, I highly doubt it, and if that was the only basis for her injury claim then no D.A. in the world would use that to satisfy the injury element in a criminal case.

by Day Man on Jul 17, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks

thanks for clearing that up Day Man – I was thinking that if she or her unborn baby were seriously injured that would have been released within the same article

the way it reads is that she may have been injured

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

This is just pure conjecture but I think anyone who was pregnant would go to the hospital to make sure that everything is ok with the baby even if the jostling from the contact between the car was minor. Its a normal precautionary measure.

As other posters have mentioned, it would be very difficult for injuries to occur to her in that huge truck she was in, but now that this was all over the news and rampage is famous enough that people assume he has pro athlete money (he doesn’t), you may see a civil lawsuit.

by Day Man on Jul 17, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

He doesn’t have pro athelete money, but he does have some money. He’s hardly broke.

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 5:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed, but if you’re just some lady who has no idea about MMA and you see on the news that hes a former light-heavyweight champ, you are going to assume that he is worth millions and millions of dollars.

by Day Man on Jul 17, 2008 5:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Alright....

I understand what your saying but I wasn’t trying to say that is how it is going to happen. I was merely stating it’s a possibility for them to charge him with a felony because of it.

So is it just your opinion they won’t charge him with a felony or is it a matter of fact they won’t charge him with a felony?

by mattman73 on Jul 17, 2008 7:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Definitely not a matter of fact. It’s all up to the D.A.

by Day Man on Jul 17, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

very possible

given the publicity; but the police reported that no one was injured in the first report

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Also, it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury, the cop says it is a minor injury.

by Michael Rome on Jul 17, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

That Dana interview is PAINFUL to listen to.

by Chris Nelson on Jul 17, 2008 2:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Now do you have a new appreciation for MMA Nation? ;)

by Luke Thomas on Jul 17, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

Very

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol

I’m listening to it now. I guess these guys don’t believe in researching their guests.

by mythbuster on Jul 17, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

right

so why was Dana on the show to begin with – I said WOW like 10 times listening to this

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Radio Interview

Can anyone tell me why those 4 callers called in for the trivia question and couldn’t even answer them? I mean they could have thrown out any fighters name; for heaven’s sake. How embarrassing.

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:18 PM EDT 0 recs

hahah this made me feel a lot of pity for the station. they had no clue, and neither did their listeners. i can imagine dana was probably sitting on the other side of the line like, “these dumb f*ckers..”

by uziari on Jul 17, 2008 2:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Producers

don’t the producers screen callers?

by lovingmma25 on Jul 17, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gotta agree with you guys, that radio spot was as painful as it gets.

by Benicio on Jul 17, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh my god that was bad. This is from the Mark and Brian radio show in Los Angeles. Pretty big show in a pretty big market. The problem is that their callers are trained to just speed dial the show to win free crap.

by Day Man on Jul 17, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up 0 recs