The question that needs to be asked is how Glenn Foster fell so far from grace? He was only 31 when he died in police custody in Alabama. The death is under investigation and before jumping to conclusions (the records are sealed), it is obvious he was a fallen hero.
Reckless Endangerment
The initial jailing came on Saturday morning, December 4, 2021 as the result of “reckless endangerment.” Reckless endangerment is defined as” a crime consisting of acts that create a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.”
When Foster was pulled over after he attempted to evade police in his vehicle (He was driving up to 90 mph in a 45-mph zone). The police had to use a spike strip to slow him down.
He resisted arrest.
The next day he was rebooked on a charge of second-degree assault and robbery.
While he was in handcuffs, he fought against a Pickens County deputy and a corrections officer. It was the result of him getting into an altercation with another inmate.
He injured a corrections officer in the struggle. The former football player stood 6’4” and weighed about 300 pounds. It is difficult to know what ensued while he was in custody. What is known is that he was reported dead at a hospital in Northport, Alabama.
After his initial appearance before Judge Samuel W. Junkin, Foster “was non-compliant and refused to respond to or answer any questions.” Foster was denied bail. In a statement to the media, Junkin explained:
“(D)ue to information received from law enforcement regarding the defendant’s behavior both during the arrest and while being held in the county jail, as well as this court’s observation of the defendant’s mental state during the attempted initial appearance, the court is of the opinion that the defendant is not mentally stable and a danger to himself and others.”
Foster had been managing bipolar disorder but apparently, he had not taken medication for several days. The judge was allegedly aware of this. The family maintains that had they known, they might have gotten Foster his medication.
Whatever happened to Foster in jail between Saturday and Monday is unknown.
All Three?
When he was on medication, Glenn Foster seemed to have worked as a granite counter-top retailer, contractor, developer and real estate agent.
Whether desperation or a lack of mental clarity forced him to robbery remains a mystery.
Was his violence and lack of judgment as a result of going without bipolar medication? Or, are there other issues such as repeated head trauma as the result of collegiate and NFL concussions?
We are also not naïve to the racial overtones of this incident. The event occurred in Alabama and he was a Black man who may or may not have been violent while in custody.
Or, could it be as the result of all three factors coming together to murder Glenn Foster: a lack of medication; head trauma and racism?
There are, of course, ethical overtones to the three factors: Medical, Social and the NFL itself. Over time, it seems as though these tragedies follow a similar path and outcome. Who helps these young men after football discards them? Who guides and teaches them coping skills?
He was only 31 and not enough people seem to care.
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It’s a sad story but here’s another way to frame the story. The question was “who takes care of them after sports is over?” If you (plural) and I are responsible for our futures why wasn’t Foster and his family responsible for his future, to take his meds so he doesn’t get into trouble? For example, the family said they didn’t know Foster was off his meds, then how would law enforcement know? Police nationwide have thousands of “Fosters’ every day. Can they know about all of them? Only in America where no one is responsible for anything can the family hold police to a higher standard than they hold themselves. Next the family will sue the police for not taking Foster’s meds to him. Aren’t they responsible to take care of him?
Sounds like teenagers. Give me. Take me. Buy me.