Yet again, a domestic violence charge against Reuben Foster has been dropped.
TMZ reported the State Attorney’s Office in Florida has dismissed the misdemeanor domestic violence charge on Nov. 24 that led to Foster’s release from the San Francisco 49ers. The Washington Redskins claimed Foster off waivers right after he was cut. Foster has been on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list since then.
Foster’s lawyer Eddie Suarez told TMZ that he believed a previous case in which Foster’s ex-girlfriend changed her story about a domestic violence incident was a factor in the most recent case being dropped.
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TUSCALOOSA, AL – APRIL 19: Reuben Foster #10 of the Crimson team looks into the backfield of the White team during the University of Alabama A-Day spring game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 19, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Jan 7, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) during the Alabama Crimson Tide media day at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) walks onto the field prior to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Washington Huskies on December 31, 2016, at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. Alabama won the game 24-7. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Clemson Tigers is tackled short of the first down by linebacker Reuben Foster #10 and defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the third quarter of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game as defensive back Marlon Humphrey #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 11: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) flexes after his teammates made a defensive stop in the third quarter of an NFL week 1 preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on August 11th, 2017 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The 49ers won 27-17. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Aug 27, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) looks on following the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) is loaded onto the injury cart during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Christian McCaffrey #22 of the Carolina Panthers talks to Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers after their game at Levi’s Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) walks the sidelines prior to an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Reuben Foster (56) celebrates after making a tackle during an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers on November 5, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) and San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Reuben Foster (56) pose for a picture after exchanging their jersey’s with each other during an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers on November 5, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Daniel Brown #85 of the Chicago Bears carries the football against Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers talks with Official Allen Baynes on the field prior to the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The 49ers defeated the Texans 26-16. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 17: San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Reuben Foster (56) brings down Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) during the game between the Tennessee Titans verses the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Second time charges against Reuben Foster dropped
Last May, domestic violence charges against Foster were dropped by a judge due to insufficient evidence. In that case, Foster’s ex-girlfriend said in court that she lied about what happened in February, when she initially claimed Foster hit her and dragged her by the hair. Foster did get a weapons charge in that case, which led to a two-game NFL suspension.
Then last November the same woman from the earlier domestic violence accusation, Elissa Ennis, said Foster slapped the “phone out of her hand, pushed her in the chest area and slapped her with an open hand on the right side of her face,” according to a criminal affidavit obtained by ABC News. This happened in the 49ers’ team hotel in Tampa the night before a game, and the team cut him. The Redskins claimed him right after, setting off criticism.
Ennis told “Good Morning America” in December that Foster had been physical with her three times before the incident in Tampa. She explained why she recanted her story over the February incident.
“Because I loved him, and love will have you doing things that’s not in your best interests,” Ennis told “Good Morning America.”
“I did what I had to do for the person I love. I thought that he would change.”
What will NFL do about Foster?
The NFL is again in a tough spot when it comes to a domestic violence case. There are no charges against Foster. While Ennis showed pictures of bruises to her neck/collarbone and on the side of her face to “Good Morning America,” all the NFL has is her word since charges were dismissed.
The last time, the NFL used the weapons charge to suspend Foster. It doesn’t seem there’s anything similar stemming from the incident in November. The league was just blasted for not doing enough in the case of Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt. Now it faces a similar situation with Foster.
