49ers LB Reuben Foster arrested on suspected domestic violence charges
It’s Foster’s second arrest in 2018.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was arrested and booked into the County of Santa Clara jail in February. On Thursday, Foster was charged with felony domestic violence.
According to a Santa Clara County press release, Foster is accused of physically attacking his live-in girlfriend, “leaving her bruised and with a ruptured ear drum.”
In addition to the allegation of domestic violence, Foster was also booked for suspicion of possessing an assault rifle and charged with misdemeanor possession of a large capacity weapon magazine. Niners Nation learned that Foster is in the process of being released, and his bail will be set at $75,000.
General manager John Lynch said at the NFL Combine that the 49ers are “actively following protocols with both law enforcement and the NFL.”
“With this, we’ve been a little quiet. And that’s for a reason. There’s places I can’t and won’t go,” Lynch said, via Cam Inman and Matt Schneidman of Mercury News.
It’s Foster’s second arrest in as many months. The Alabama product was arrested in Tuscaloosa in January for possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. His bond in that incident was set at $2,500.
The team provided a statement to Jennifer Lee Chan of Niners Nation.
Statement from the #49ers:
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) February 12, 2018
The San Francisco 49ers organization is aware of the report regarding Reuben Foster. We take matters of this nature seriously and are gathering all pertinent information.
Foster, who just finished his rookie season with the 49ers, found himself in hot water at the NFL Combine last year. His urine sample was diluted, which counts as a positive drug test per the league’s policy on substance abuse. Foster was also involved in an altercation with medical personnel and was sent home early from the combine.
That didn’t scare the 49ers. San Francisco selected Foster with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Once the criminal justice process is complete for Foster, the NFL will launch an investigation into any domestic violence allegations under its personal conduct policy. The league’s process doesn’t require the same burden of proof as the courts, so a six-game suspension — the baseline for a first-time alleged domestic violence offender — may be looming for Foster.
The 49ers cut cornerback Tramaine Brock last year not even one day after he was arrested on allegations of domestic violence. Now we’ll see what they do with Foster.