Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was arrested Tuesday afternoon at about 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time in Newport Beach, Calif. on suspicion of felony evading, hit-and-run and reckless driving.
According to Lt. Paul Dondero of the Costa Mesa Police Department, “A Costa Mesa traffic officer observed a large pick-up weaving in and out of traffic” with a blown out front left tire. The driver of that pick-up was later identified as Quinton Jackson.
The officer attempted to get the driver to stop, but he did not. Instead, he continued to evade police as he headed southbound on Newport Boulevard. At one point, the driver crossed over a median, “causing pedestrians to flee, going the wrong way on the northbound side of Newport Boulevard,” heading into oncoming traffic.
The chase continued with the driver hitting a parked vehicle, running through red lights, and causing more pedestrians to jump out of the path of the pick-up, one front left tire now disintegrated.
The pursuit eventually came to a halt as the pick-up stopped near 18th Street on the Balboa Peninsula.
After being taken into custody by the Costa Mesa Police Department, Jackson was later transferred to the Orange County Police Department with bail set at $25,000.
Lt. Dondero said that Jackson is also under suspicion from the California Highway Patrol of being involved in two other separate collisions that occurred earlier on the 55 freeway.
There were no charges of drugs or alcohol being involved, according to Lt. Dondero.
UFC president Dana White reportedly has flown to Orange County to post bail for Jackson, according to Kevin Iole and Dave Meltzer of Yahoo! Sports.
