UFC’s ‘Rampage’ Jackson hospitalized for mental health evaluation

Associated Press

Thursday, July 17, 2008 | 3:40 p.m.

IRVINE, Calif. — Former mixed martial arts light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has been hospitalized for a mental health evaluation.

Irvine police went to Jackson's home Wednesday after his friends told authorities they were "concerned about his behavior and some remarks he was making," Lt. Rick Handfield said Thursday.

"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.

Jackson was arrested Tuesday in Costa Mesa after a 3-mile chase that began as the result of two freeway collisions and another crash when he allegedly ran red lights in his 2008 Ford F250 pickup, police said.

During the chase, police said, Jackson drove over the raised median of the roadway, drove onto a sidewalk, causing pedestrians to flee, and a tire on his truck disintegrated before he taken into custody without incident.

Jackson was booked for investigation of felony evading, reckless driving and hit and run, and released on $25,000 bail.

After the arrest, police said they learned that Jackson may have been involved in two collisions on the freeway, which did not involve injuries.

Jackson lost his Ultimate Fighting Championship title July 5 in Las Vegas to Forrest Griffin in an unanimous decision.

UFC spokeswoman Jennifer Wenk in Las Vegas declined comment on the 30-year-old fighter's recent troubles.