The self-proclaimed Seattle superhero who goes by the name Phoenix Jones unmasked himself Thursday morning at a court hearing.
Prosecutors have filed no charges, but Jones, 23, whose real name is Benjamin John Francis Fodor, appeared in a court wearing a charcoal-colored mask and a superhero uniform under a black and gray striped shirt. A court officer asked him to remove the mask and he complied but put it back on after the hearing to speak with reporters — at which point, he dramatically removed it again to reveal his true identity.
Fodor was arrested Sunday after police say he pepper sprayed a group of people downtown as they left a nightclub. Fodor said he was trying to break up a fight when he was attacked. He spent about seven hours in jail before posting $3,800 bail.
Prosecutors told a judge they needed more time to decide whether to file charges.
Fodor said he would be back out on patrol again Thursday night.
"I will continue to patrol with my team, probably tonight," Fodor said, according to a report in the Seattle Times. "In addition to being Phoenix Jones, I am also Ben Fodor, father and brother. I am just like everybody else. The only difference is that I try to stop crime in my neighborhood and everywhere else."
Jones said he's the leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement, which has conducted late-night patrols in Seattle since last year.
Fodor also goes by "Flattop" when he fights in the local mixed martial arts scene, according to Seattlepi.com.
"I think I have to look toward the future and see what I can do to help the city," he told reporters.
His Facebook page was mostly filled Thursday with outpourings of support to keep patrolling, including posts from Germany where Fodor had been featured on television.