Masked vigilante Phoenix Jones suffers broken nose

Phoenix Jones, the masked superhero vigilante protecting the streets of a small American town, has had his nose broken and was threatened at gunpoint over the weekend.

Phoenix Jones patrols the streets of Lynnwood, a town of 35,000 people just outside Seattle, Washington Photo: CBS

4:22PM GMT 11 Jan 2011

The incident has prompted police to ask that he and others stop dressing up in costumes and instead notify the authorities.

Jones, who wears a black and gold costume, patrols the streets of Lynnwood, a town of 35,000 people just outside Seattle, Washington.

Last week, The Daily Telegraph reported that he had recently prevented a car theft but on Saturday night he suffered a broken nose when attempting to break up a fight.

Jones told local television that he called police and put one of the men in a headlock while waiting for them. Another man then pulled out a gun and when the superhero let go of the man he was holding, the man kicked him in the face and broke his nose.