Judge says lawsuit over former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr.’s jail death can proceed

A federal judge has ruled that the family of former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr., who died in law enforcement action in Alabama, can file a lawsuit claiming his death was the result of excessive force.

REFORM, Ala. — A federal judge ruled that the family of former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr., who died in law enforcement action in Alabama, can file a lawsuit claiming his death was the result of excessive force.

Foster, a former New Orleans Saints defensive end, died on December 6, 2021, three days after he was arrested and taken to jail in rural Pickens County for alleged speeding and attempting to elude police.

A judge ordered Foster taken to a medical facility in Tuscaloosa for a mental evaluation. Foster was found unconscious in the back of a law enforcement vehicle when he arrived at the facility. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

His widow, Pamela Foster, has filed a lawsuit to deputies from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the Pickens County Jail, saying Foster was beaten, shocked with a Taser and strangled while in jail. The defendants then asked a federal judge to dismiss the case.

U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon ruled Thursday that she declined to dismiss charges of excessive force and failure to intervene. Axon has dismissed other parts of the lawsuit. The ruling came a day before the third anniversary of Foster’s death.

Foster played in 17 games for the Saints in 2013 and 2014.