Police take ‘Rampage’ Jackson to hospital

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title holder who was arrested Tuesday for allegedly leading Costa Mesa police on a wild chase into Newport Beach, was taken to the hospital for mental evaluation Wednesday, police said.

Jackson, who trains at the HB Ultimate Training Center in Huntington Beach, was picked up by Irvine police at about 4:30 p.m. after they determined he was a possible danger to himself and others, said Lt. Rick Handfield.

Friends called police due to Jackson’s “unusual behavior and comments,” Handfield said. After talking to Jackson, they decided to take him to the hospital; he was completely cooperative, Handfield said.

Police declined to state which hospital Jackson was taken to or if he had been released.

Jackson, who was upset by Forrest Griffin in the UFC championship earlier this month, is accused of hitting two cars on the southbound 55 freeway Tuesday afternoon and leaving the scene and then running from Costa Mesa police minutes later when they tried to pull him over. Jackson hit at least three cars altogether, authorities said, with at least one woman complaining she was injured.

Jackson has yet to be charged and was released on $25,000 bail early Wednesday by UFC president Dana White.