Jul 17, 2008 11:17 am US/Pacific
UFC Champ Gets Head Checked Post-'Rampage'
IRVINE
A day after allegedly going on a driving rampage in Orange County, former mixed martial arts champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said today.
Police went to Jackson's neighborhood in the 100 block of Whistling Isle about 4:30 p.m. yesterday after his friends told authorities they were "concerned about his behavior and some remarks he was making," said Irvine police Lt. Rick Handfield.
"Officers spoke to him to evaluate whether he was a danger to himself or others," Handfield said. "He was detained and was taken to an area hospital for mental evaluation."
Handfield declined to elaborate, citing privacy restrictions.
Tuesday afternoon, Jackson was arrested in Costa Mesa following a three-mile chase that began on the heels of two freeway collisions and another crash when he allegedly ran red lights, police said.
A motorcycle officer attempted to stop Jackson after his 2008 Ford F250 pickup truck left the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, where it ends at 19th Street and Newport Boulevard, and was seen weaving in and out of traffic, said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Vic Bakkila.
Ignoring the motorcycle officer's activated light, Jackson drove over the raised center portion of the roadway at Cabrillo Avenue, lost control and drove onto the sidewalk, causing pedestrians to flee for their lives, Bakkila said.
Jackson regained control and continued south in the northbound lanes of Newport Boulevard, colliding with a vehicle and running several red lights.
The rubber from the tire began disintegrating at the Pacific Coast Highway overpass. Jackson crossed onto the Balboa Peninsula, running several more red lights and causing more pedestrians to flee.
Jackson's truck came to a stop at 18th Street and Newport Boulevard in Newport Beach, and he was arrested by Costa Mesa officers without further incident, Bakkila said.
He was booked on suspicion of felony evading, reckless driving and hit and run, and released on $25,000 bail.
After the arrest, police learned that Jackson may have been involved in two collisions on the freeway, Bakkila said.
California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada said one of the collisions left a woman with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. She was in a car allegedly sideswiped by Jackson's vehicle, Quesada said.
Jackson lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title July 5 to Forrest Griffin in a unanimous decision that drew criticism from Jackson's manager and trainer, Juanito Ibarra.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
