San Diego Chargers Linebacker Foley Out For Season

By Mark Hoerrner

In his second run-in with the law in five months San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley is going to be suffering a fate worse than death for an athlete – he’s been benched for the season. What worse: the Chargers won’t be paying him a dime of his $775,000 annual salary and he loses the possibility of nearly $900,000 in additional bonus wages.

But, hey, at least he’s got his health.

Foley remains in stable condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

The linebacker has had an issue with alcohol for some time, which was the suspected reason for his behavior just prior to being shot, according to Lt. Dennis Brugos of the San Diego Sheriff’s Dept.

The initial report states that an unnamed off-duty officer noticed that Foley’s vehicle was traveling erratically, changing speeds and alternating between 30 and 90 miles per hour. The officer followed Foley and called the situation into other law enforcement agencies via radio.

At a red light, the officer pulled alongside Foley’s vehicle and identified himself as a police officer and asked Foley to pull over. He ignored the officer. Some distance later, Foley stopped his car again and the officer pulled alongside. The officer brandished his firearm and ordered Foley to pull over. Foley allegedly ignored the officer’s commands and then stopped, got out of the car and approached the officer.

The officer identified himself again and Foley replied "that’s a BB gun."

What took place next, the report says, would be fodder for an action movie. Foley returned to his car and drove away. Finally stopping near his house, the 6-foot-4, 270 pound linebacker stepped out of his car and approached the officer again. Foley’s female companion, Lisa Maree Gaut, moved in behind the wheel of his car. The officer repeated demands to stop, continued to identify himself and actually fired a warning shot into a nearby bush. Gaut charged the officer with the car and the officer fired off two shots at the vehicle before noticing that Foley was still advancing but with his hand in his pocket. The officer fired at Foley.

"The suspect acknowledged that he had been shot, but continued toward the officer," according to the official sheriff’s report.

His agent, David Levine, said Foley was shot three times, but was recovering well.

Gaut was arrested yesterday and charged with driving under the influence and for assault with a deadly weapon.

Charges have not been filed against Foley.