Jeremy Graber
Assistant news editor
The past few months, a group known as the Rain City Superhero Movement (RCSM) has taken to the streets, patrolling for crime. Their normal area of operation includes Capitol Hill, Belltown, and Chinatown, but they’ve also been spotted in Lynnwood, Bellevue, and Beacon Hill.
RCSM is led by Phoenix Jones, the Guardian of Seattle. He is a 24-year old mixed martial artist from Seattle. Other members include Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Penelope, and the newest addition Red Dragon.
According to Phoenix and other members, RCSM is made up of people with a variety of backgrounds. Everybody has martial arts experience. Some people have military, police, and even medical experience, which they bring with them.
Besides patrolling the streets for violent crimes, the group also supports the community through donations and charity work. This Christmas, Phoenix Jones donated nearly 50 toys to needy children.
Other charitable acts include donating food and winter supplies to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission.
Recently, Phoenix Jones prevented an attempted car theft by chasing off the offending person. Dan, the owner of the vehicle, reported that he saw a man at his minivan with break-in tools trying to get in. Before he even had time to react, a man in costume suddenly ran over to the man who took off down the street.
Even some of the other members have been successful in bringing criminals to justice. Earlier in the week, Red Dragon was engaged in a foot chase of a man who exposed himself to a female on the 36 Metro Bus. While dressed in civilian clothes, he chased the suspect for more than a mile and cornered him in a convenience store where Seattle police officers made the arrest.
As of Tuesday, Francisco Lopez-Ramirez remains in police custody and is facing charges for his actions on the bus.
These superheroes have some messages for the citizens of Seattle. The first is that you don’t have to wear a costume to do some good. Donate to charity or volunteer to help others. The biggest help is to report crimes when they occur. “If you see something, you have to say something or else nothing changes,” said Phoenix Jones.
The next part of the message is that if you commit crimes against other people, you will be caught.
Red Dragon stated that he and other members plan on making patrols at the Bellevue College campus to help ensure student safety.
If you have tips, the superheroes can be reached at red.dragon.legion@gmail.com or guardianofseattle@gmail.com
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