Former UFC champ arrested

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who lost his light heavyweight belt this month in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, was arrested Tuesday after police say he took them on a dramatic chase though Costa Mesa and Newport Beach that left shredded rubber, frightened pedestrians and damaged cars in its wake.

Jackson’s alleged tear stretched from the 55 Freeway through Newport Boulevard down to the Balboa Peninsula, police said. Just before 1:30 p.m., Jackson was getting off the southbound 55 Freeway as it turned into Newport Boulevard in his lifted, gray pick-up truck with his likeness painted on the side, police said. He hit two cars there but continued driving, Lt. Paul Dondero said.

An officer, unaware of the reported hit-and-run accident farther north on Newport Boulevard, saw Jackson weaving through traffic, talking on a cellphone with a blown front-left tire toward 17th Street, officials said. Jackson didn’t stop when the officer tried to pull him over, and he hit more cars as he fled, police said.

Jackson, an Irvine resident, then steered his truck onto the grass off Cabrillo Street near Superior Avenue and onto the sidewalk, almost hitting bystanders, Dondero said. Jackson regained control and continued south on Newport Boulevard but straight into oncoming traffic, officials said.

Police said that by the time he got to the PCH overpass at the Balboa Peninsula, the truck’s left front tire was nothing but a trail of rubber pieces sprinkled across the street.

Jackson raced down Balboa Boulevard, running several red lights before ending the chase at 18th Street, police said.

“At first I heard sirens right outside my window for maybe a minute,” said Steve De La Torre, a personal trainer who lives near where the chase ended. “Then I heard over the bull horn ‘Get down! Get down!’”

He said he saw about 10 police cars, several police motorcycles and a police helicopter descend on the scene. Many officers had guns drawn as they instructed Jackson out of the truck, onto the ground and cleared the car of anyone else. Jackson did not resist arrest and was booked on suspicion of felony evading, reckless driving and a hit and run.

“He was very highly regarded as a fighter for me. It kind of took away a little bit,” De La Torre said. “He seemed like a nice guy, a good guy. Even when he lost, he was humble.”

Jackson lost his UFC light heavyweight belt to Forrest Griffin July 5. He was taken to Orange County Jail on $25,000 bail. No one was injured during the chase, police said.

UFC officials referred all comments to the Costa Mesa Police Department.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].