The family of Ex-NFL player Glenn Foster Jr. is now suing the agency that arrested him, ultimately leading to his death.
As People reports, Foster was arrested on December 3rd, 2021, for speeding and eluding in Pickens County, Alabama. During the encounter, officers violently slammed Foster’s head onto the concrete. When paramedics arrived, they pleaded with authorities to conduct “a full medical examination or mental health and wellness check of Foster.” However, the Pickens County Sheriff’s officers transported him to jail. Upon learning of his arrest, Foster’s family asked that the former football player be transferred to a psychiatric ward for an evaluation, especially considering a previous bipolar diagnosis.
The original plan was for Foster to be released for mental health care, but after an alleged altercation with another inmate, he was held on new charges. According to the wrongful death lawsuit filed in an Alabama federal court, he was strapped to a chair, tased while being restrained, and placed in a headlock until he passed out. By the time he was finally transported to a psychiatric unit, the situation had become more dire. The family claims that on the way to the evaluation, he was violently pulled by his neck and pushed. Foster was foaming at the mouth and nostrils when he reached his destination. He was also slumped over with bruises on him. He died on December 6th, 2021, at the North Port Medical Center in Northport.
The family is seeking damages for several claims, such as the use of excessive force, negligent training, and civil rights violations, alleging that these circumstances led to Foster’s death. A state autopsy declared the former New Orleans Saints player died of natural causes, though an independent autopsy noted signs of strangulation.
