There's more bad news from the saga of Phoenix Jones. The Seattle-based vigilante whom for many exemplified the "real-life superhero" trend has been fired from his job following a recent arrest for assault and subsequent unmasking. Real name Ben Fodor, Jones was employed as a teacher of sorts, working with autistic children and young adults, before the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services informed him that he was barred from any work with kids.Seattle's PubliCola website reports that Jones was until recently working with five developmentally disabled autistic children whose ages ranged between four to 18-years-old, teaching them such life skills as going shopping and balancing a checkbook. Jones told writer Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, "I had to leave work in the middle of the day. It was embarrassing."

The DSHS' order appears to be a consequence of Jones' arrest for assault last month, when he allegedly pepper sprayed a group of people in what he characterized as an attempt to break up a fight. The incident was captured on video and can be seen below (contains NSFW language):


It would seem that whatever Jones' intentions in getting involved in the conflict, his arrest signaled to the DSHS that he's a liability. Jones told PubliCola that his name has been put on a list of individuals who may not work with children because, in his words, "[I now have] a history of interjecting myself into situations that are dangerous." But, he added, "I would say I have a history of fighting crime. The whole point of what I do is to keep people safe."

Prosecutors have yet to file any charges against Ben Fodor, but he's indicated he will continue to operate as Phoenix Jones regardless of his arrest and unmasking. Unfortunately, the crime fighter doesn't know what he'll do for a day job.

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