Reuben Foster, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, was among players on his team to take a knee during the national anthem last fall to protest alleged police brutality of blacks.

He was among about 180 players who sat or knelt for the national anthem at games following President Donald Trump’s comments about the “total disrespect” during an Alabama campaign rally in September, AL.com reports.

Ironically, Foster is now facing charges stemming from his own alleged brutality.

Los Gatos Monte Sereno police arrested the 23-year-old Alabama native Sunday morning on charges of domestic violence, threats and possession of an “assault weapon,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance at a home on Shannon Road around 9:15 a.m., and arrested Foster after speaking with the victim. It was his second arrest in the last month, following a Jan. 12 arrest in Alabama for marijuana possession, the news site reports.

“The San Francisco 49ers organization is aware of the report regarding Reuben Foster,” the team wrote in a prepared statement. “We take matters of this nature seriously and are gathering all pertinent information.”

Foster was held at Santa Clara County Jail on a $75,000 bail for his most recent arrest and was released at about 6:35 p.m. Sunday.

The 49ers reported cited his “character” as the reason officials signed him during the first round of the NFL draft last April, after other teams passed.

“I would anticipate people maybe questioning some of his character, but I would tell you his character’s what drew us to him,” General Manager John Lynch said, according to the Chronicle. “When you start talking football with this young man, he lights up the room, and he’s a good kid. I believe in the kid, and I think it’s going to be – he’s going to be a great player for this organization for a long time.”

The 49ers cut cornerback Tramaine Brock around the same time after he was charged with domestic violence against his girlfriend. Those charges were later dropped.

Foster missed six games last season with back and ankle injuries, but racked up 72 tackles in the 10 games he played, according to Bleacher Report.

Following his marijuana arrest, Lynch told Niners Nation the team is sticking by his side because “we still believe in him a great deal.”

The marijuana charge is a misdemeanor for personal use possession, which typically carries a one-day suspension in the NFL.

The punishment for domestic violence and weapons charges, from both the league and the courts, is much harsher.

“Under the NFL’s domestic violence policy, players are given a six-game suspension for a first incident and a lifetime ban for a second incident,” the Chronicle reports.