UFC fighter Henry Cejudo helps catch suspects who crashed into home

PHOENIX — A man has been arrested after he allegedly drove a car into a Phoenix house and then assaulted the person who lives there, according to authorities.

The Phoenix Police Department said the incident happened Friday night near State Route 51 and Bethany Home Road.

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After the car crashed into the home, the occupant tried to run away from the scene, police said.

At that point, the car’s occupant was confronted by the person who lives in the house. One of the people in the car then committed the assault. 

12News has now learned that one of the homeowner’s neighbors, UFC fighter Henry Cejudo, then jumped in to help. 

Cejudo said he had been working with his producer when he saw a car speed through the neighborhood going anywhere from 80-100 miles per hour. Then, he heard it crash into the home.  

“I knew he had hit something or somebody, but I knew something had happened and he ended up hitting my neighbor’s yard,” Cejudo said. “There were four passengers in there, they couldn’t get out. If you see inside this room, if somebody was standing there, they’d be dead. All these kids are lucky to be alive.”  

Cejudo then said he saw the people in the car try to leave, and his neighbor get punched while trying to stop them. That’s when he put his mixed martial arts training to use. 

“That’s when I had to step in,” Cejudo said. “I ended up dropping him, lifting him, dropping him, stomped him around a little bit and pretty much controlled him with one arm, honestly. So, he wasn’t that tough.”

Angel Cota, 22, was identified as the car’s driver and arrested in connection to the incident. He is facing multiple charges including DUI and assault, police said.   

Cejudo said that he was happy to help and was just glad no one in his neighbor’s home was seriously injured. 

“I need a cape every once in a while, man,” Cejudo said. “But in all fairness too, we’re just happy that nobody got injured.. To see something like this, it’s just devastating.” 

This is a developing story; additional details will be added as they become available. 

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