BIRMINGHAM, AL – Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law and co-counsel Eli Hare of DiCello Levitt today filed a lawsuit against Pickens County (Alabama), the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, the Pickens County Jail, and the individual officers who, according to the lawsuit, were involved in torturing former New Orleans Saints football player Glenn Foster Jr., contributing to his death.
Foster, a family man, businessman, and philanthropist, died on December 6, 2021, three days after he was detained in a traffic stop.
The lawsuit alleges that despite the assertion of EMS professionals at the scene that they should conduct a full medical examination or mental health and wellness check of Foster, the defendants transported him directly to the Pickens County Jail. During his arrest, the lawsuit says, Foster was wrestled to the ground by the law enforcement defendants, hit his head on concrete, and continued to endure physical abuse once he was at the jail.
Foster’s family negotiated a conditional bond with Reform Police Chief Richard Black so that he could receive medical care. When the family attempted to make Foster’s bond, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office refused to release him and Foster was rebooked on a new set of charges for an alleged incident with a fellow inmate.
Foster remained at the Pickens County Jail for over 24 hours, where, according to the lawsuit, he endured treatment including excessive tasing, being strapped to a chair, being tased while in a restraint chair, being tased while naked, being choked and put in headlocks, and being choked to the point of unconsciousness.
On December 6, 2021, a judge issued an order for Foster to undergo an in-patient psychiatric evaluation. According to the lawsuit, it is believed that during the transport to a medical facility, Foster was shackled with handcuffs and metal chains around his wrists, ankles, and waist. The lawsuit says it is believed that Foster was forcibly pushed and yanked by defendants to get him into the transport vehicle, causing further injuries that would lead to his untimely death. When Foster arrived at Northport Medical Center, he was slumped over, discolored, and foaming at the mouth and nostrils. Shortly after, Foster was pronounced dead.
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
