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Photo: JOE DYER / seattlepi.com file Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Image 2 of 5 Phoenix Jones and his posse of Seattle super heroes make an appearance at the Occupy Seattle protests at Westlake Park in October 2011. Phoenix Jones and his posse of Seattle super heroes make an appearance at the Occupy Seattle protests at Westlake Park in October 2011. Photo: JOE DYER / seattlepi.com file Image 3 of 5 Phoenix Jones and his crew speak on safety and hand out pepper spray at the Belltown Community Safety Meeting at the Labor Temple in Seattle Washington on Wednesday August 31, 2011. Phoenix Jones and his crew speak on safety and hand out pepper spray at the Belltown Community Safety Meeting at the Labor Temple in Seattle Washington on Wednesday August 31, 2011. Photo: JOE DYER / seattlepi.com file Image 4 of 5 Phoenix Jones points to his cheeks, saying, "I think my cheeks are a little fatter in this," during the 14th Annual Letterpress Wayzgoose & Steamroller Smackdown at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle on Saturday, August 25, 2012. less Phoenix Jones points to his cheeks, saying, "I think my cheeks are a little fatter in this," during the 14th Annual Letterpress Wayzgoose & Steamroller Smackdown at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle on ... more Photo: LINDSEY WASSON / seattlepi.com file Image 5 of 5 Phoenix Jones announces disbandment of Rain City superheroes 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Seattle’s resident vigilante hero, Phoenix Jones, is going it alone now.

He announced on his Facebook page Thursday that he has lent his civilian crime-fighting training and trust to some of the wrong people, some of whom are dangerous and carrying illegal weapons.

Phoenix Jones — real name Ben Fodor — was the head of a band of the Rain City Superhero Movement, aimed at fighting Seattle crime in elaborate superhero costumes.

They gained attention in 2010 after witnesses spotted them intervening in various crimes throughout the city. Good deeds reported include stopping robbers who claimed to be police from attacking a blind man in Belltown.

The members of the brigade were known to have military or mixed martial arts experience and carried Tasers, night sticks and pepper spray, but no firearms or illegal weapons.

Characters went by names such as Thorn, Green Reaper, Thunder 99 and Purple Reign, among several others. They showed up at the 2012 May Day protests and appeared at community safety meetings. The group even prompted the emergence of a faux villain, Rex Velvet.

Seattle police didn’t approve of them, but they gained the cops’ seemingly reluctant tolerance.

Last year, Phoenix Jones announced he was hiring, seeking people with a bulletproof vest, CPR skills and military police or martial arts experience.

However, this effort to grow the Superhero Movement has since gone awry, Phoenix Jones announced in his Facebook post.

Several members could not meet minimum fitness requirements or medical training. Others still lacked professionalism, he said.

He opened his announcement thusly, and yes in all caps:

FIRST OFF IM SORRY I STARTED FIGHTING CRIME YEARS AGO AND INSPIRED ALOT IF PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME. I REALLY THOUGHT THAT HAVING A LARGE GROUP OF CIVILIAN CRIME FIGHTERS WAS A GOOD IDEA. I WAS WRONG, IT TAKES A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON TO DO THIS JOB CORRECTLY AND UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE INSPIRED, WORKED WITH, AND EVEN TAUGHT SOME OF THE WRONG KINDS OF PEOPLE.

He goes on:

IM SORRY IF I LET ANYONE DOWN I WILL CONTINUE TO PATROL AND HELP PEOPLE. I JUST CAN’T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE CONTINUE TO PUT MY SEAL OF APPROVE ON PEOPLE I FEEL ARE NOT LOYAL OR PROPERLY TRAINED. AS ALWAYS BE SAFE MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND I’LL SEE YOU IN THE STREETS.

The announcement made Rex Velvet giddy with evil excitement.