| For Immediate Release Case # 08CF2445
|
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER CHARGED FOR FLEEING AFTER CRASHING INTO SEVERAL CARS AND
LEADING POLICE ON COSTA MESA CHASE
SANTA ANA – A professional fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship was charged today with crashing into several cars while driving in Costa Mesa and leading police on a chase after fleeing the scene. Quinton Ramone Jackson, 30, Irvine, also known as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, is charged with one felony count of evading while driving recklessly, one felony count of evading a peace officer and driving against traffic, three misdemeanor counts of hit and run with property damage, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Jackson is out of custody and the People will be requesting $25,000 bail at his arraignment on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-55 Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On July 15, 2008, Jackson is accused of driving southbound on State Route 55 (SR-55) in Costa Mesa in his lifted 2008 Ford truck. As traffic slowed at the intersection of SR-55 and 19th Street, Jackson is accused of driving up onto the curb and sideswiping two vehicles, causing damage to both. He is accused of failing to stop after hitting the two cars and fleeing the scene by continuing to drive southbound on Newport Boulevard.
Two intersections south of the crash, a Costa Mesa police officer saw the defendant driving on Newport Boulevard on a flat, left front tire. Jackson is accused of aggressively weaving through traffic and talking on a cell phone. When the officer pulled behind the defendant’s truck and turned on his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, Jackson is accused of accelerating and continuing to flee. After the officer turned on his siren, Jackson is accused of continuing to weave through traffic and cutting off and colliding with a Toyota Camry. He is accused of failing to stop after crashing into the Toyota and driving over the center median, heading the wrong way into oncoming traffic. Jackson is accused of driving up the curb on the wrong side of road, narrowly missing a bus stop and forcing several pedestrians at the bus stop to run out of the way to avoid being hit.
Jackson is accused of driving back onto the correct side of the road and weaving in and out of traffic as officers followed in marked patrol vehicles with lights and sirens. The defendant is accused of continuing to talk on his cell phone and running multiple red lights while driving on three tires and only the rim of his left front wheel. At two separate intersections, Jackson is accused of almost hitting a pedestrian and two bicyclists while running red lights. The defendant was eventually taken into custody on Balboa Boulevard in Newport Beach.
Deputy District Attorney Keith Bogardus of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.
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