Ex-Ohio State Player Gets 5 Behind Bars
NBC 4
A former Ohio State football player and former city employee is sentenced in the 2008 shooting of two CPD officers.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Ohio State football player and former city employee was sentenced after two CPD officers were shot last year.
Foster sentence is 5 years (eligible for early release with good behavior—in 4 years)
NBC 4’s Paul Stelzer reported from a Franklin County courtroom.
Derrick L. Foster, 38, was accused of shooting two CPD officers during a drug raid April 30, 2008.
He was arrested on and charged with two counts of felonious assault and two counts of attempted murder last year.
He pleaded to two counts of felonious assault Friday, and one of those counts had a firearms specification. With the plea, Foster admitted responsibility to the shooting.
Foster’s original charge could have sent him to prison for up to 19 years in prison, but a judge sentenced Foster to five years with possible eligibility for early release with good behavior in four.
Apparently, the plea deal included a shorter prison sentence, Stelzer reported.
Officers John Gillis and Anthony Garrison were shot at a suspected drug house on East Rich Street while narcotics tactical-unit officers attempted to serve a warrant.
Foster told investigators in April he didn’t realize the two were officers and thought someone was breaking into the residence. Foster maintained Friday he thought the two officers were robbers.
He apologized in court.
“I do apologize to the officers. Just to let them know that I still respect law enforcement. I always have. Like I said, it was just an unfortunate situation. But, just to let people know, my character will stay the same. I’m a good person, and I always have been.“
“I think Mr. Foster was sincere. I’m sure that, you know, he made a terrible mistake. But sometimes your mistakes have consequences,“ Garrison said.
Foster also was a supervisor with code enforcement with the City of Columbus Department of Development.
Michael T. Gravely, 19, was charged and arrested for the same offenses in April of last year. Both Foster and Gravely were arraigned Friday, May 2, and neither received bond. The judge said both men posed a threat to society. Gravely’s case was scheduled to go to trial later in January.
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Reader Reactions
I support Derrick 100%. I know him personally and I know that he is a warm gentle person. He made a terrible mistake and he will have to pay for it for the rest of his life. How many people are held in jail without bail? Even muderers get bail bond. They just wanted to use the fact that he played ball for Ohio State to make a example of him. No one is happy the officers got wounded in this incident but good people sometimes make bad decisions. For those who want to judge him and don’t even know him shame on you. I’m sure somewhere in you life you have made some bad decisions and would not want those who don’t know you to judge you. Personally, if I thought someone was trying to rob me or hurt me I would have done the same thing. For those who act like they don’t watch the news turn on your TV and see what our city has become. I have lived in this city for over half a century and I make sure that I am in the house before dark. Everyday someone gets murdered in our City.
i wouldnt care if he were green or blue…point is that or legal system feeds off of money and popularity…..if you have no money or no name the smallest crime will make sure you miss your entire family grow….what a sad sad world we live in….too bad he wasnt a sex offender because he wouldve probably only had to do a few months….WOW…judicial release can be possible in 4 years for ateempted murder…if this doesnt send a message of “hey kids…dont deal drugs you may get 15 years but if you gamble and shoot at the cops you can be home in 4 years”
That’s great that your black. My point is that you or me or your husband no all of the facts of this case. He does have a co-defended that is being prosecuted. The information that i have heard is that his bullet is not the one that hit the officer. We can agree to disagree. I hope you have the same passion when a police officer shoots someone and you post the same kind of messages and about the judical system. Please make sure you post these same messages when the columbus police shoots someone in the back and receive no jail time.. I will look for your post..
Ok but of course this is now a racial issue. Lets forget he TRIED TO KILL PEOPLE I dont care what color he is attempted murder is a punishable crime with white black purple or pink skin. I dont agree with what that WHITE guy did but he didnt shoot at anyone! Your right he (the white guy) should be punished with murder since he cause a suicide! You cant compare the two crimes.
Oh and by the way I am BLACK !!!!
Go Bucks!
People get special treatment all the time. Do you have a problem with the sentence because he is a black ohio state player? People make plea deals all the time ask your husband. I never hear people say the legal system is a mess when white people get special treatment only when the person is one of color. Bernard Madoff (who is white)ran one of the largest ponzi schemes in this country which cause millions of people to lose their savings and cause one person to commit sucide. He got house arrest. Please give me break,
I don’t know this guy but i know the neighorhood. The house the cops raided was not a drug house but a place where people gamble.
Ok let me get this straight he is a wonderful person that would never hurt a soul but who is paranoid about being robbed so he just opens fire on anyone who comes to the door???? I dont buy the wrong place at the wrong time he was up to something he shouldnt have been. And who cares you were a OSU football player that doesnt mean you get special treatment he should get punished like any one else. 5 yrs with early parole thats A JOKE!!! Whats with our court system!!!
I have known Derrick personally for many years and have never known him to be anything but a man of character. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Derrick, co-workers at the City of Columbus support you and are praying for your safety. Please stay strong - you have many people on your side and we will continue to support you through this journey.
Your Friends From The City of Columbus
5 year???? thats it for attempted murder. My fiancee got more than that for the posession of an illegal drug…he did not try to murder someone. Wow, what a legal system we have. My 14 month old cousin’s (may she always rest in peace)murderer got 4 years…..what a joke.
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