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this article clears up some of the misinformation that’s out there:
Everson Griffen is away from the Minnesota Vikings right now, as the veteran defensive end is currently having his mental health evaluated at a local hospital after a weekend of troubling incidents. On Saturday, authorities were called to the Hotel Ivy in Downtown Minneapolis, where Griffen was said to be causing a disturbance and threatened to shoot someone if he was not given access to his room. He was also laying down on the floor of the hotel lobby.
Now, more has come out with the police from Minnestrista, the city that Griffen and his family currently reside in. Police there released the full report of details from Griffen's weekend and what led to him having to step away from the team and seek treatment.
Here is the summary of the full police report filed by Minnetrista authorities: - Authorities were called by Vikings director of security Kim Klawiter to check on the wife and kids of Griffen at their home, stating that the team was worried about Griffen and that he had not been acting himself lately. Klawiter stated things were so bad that the team had asked him to stay away from the game on Sunday to get his head straight. Griffen still showed up at the team's practice on Saturday and was sent away. Klawiter also informed the office that Griffen had to be removed from the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis for causing a disturbance and was headed back to his home.
- The officer went to the Griffen's home in Minnetrista, where he came in contact with the family's nanny, who informed him that Griffen's wife, Tiffany, had picked up and left with their children. The officer was able to make contact with Tiffany and she told him she wanted to meet at a different location, fearing that Everson may pull up into the driveway while they were speaking.
- Once Tiffany and the officer met at a location down the road, she informed him that Griffen had not been acting like himself lately. On Sept. 16, Griffen got up out of bed in the middle of the night and left, which she said is not all that uncommon as he has "demons" he is dealing with, but that he did not return home until Wednesday, Sept. 19. They argued upon his return and he left again, not returning to his home until the morning of Saturday, Sept. 22, when the first thing he said to his wife was "so, who died?" and that "I just want help." He then told his wife to leave, which she obliged but did not feel comfortable leaving him, so she snuck back into the house. Shortly before 12 p.m. CT, Griffen left his home for the Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis, where he had been staying all week.
- The officer asked Tiffany if any threats of suicide or self-harm were made and she shared with him a text message that said "I'm great, the best I ever felt, I was always real, Always, Your mom f***** you up, Always trust your heart, I tried, Hard. I'm [sic] almost killed myself." The officer asked if he owned any weapons, to which she replied that he did not and none were found at the house. Tiffany shared other messages with the officer saying that Griffen wanted to end the relationship, but there were no other messages of self-harm or threats made. She stated that she just wanted him to get help and that he should be medicated.
- The officer concluded that nothing he had been told would be grounds for putting Griffen on a health and welfare hold and suggested that if Tiffany returned home, it would be safe to do so with another person. She informed the officer of her plans to stay with her sister or mother and felt returning home while Everson was there would only escalate the situation. She tried reaching him via phone with the officer present, but he did not answer.
- The officer attempted to reach Griffen on his own and was successful, stating that it sounded as if there was an echo and that Griffen was far away, to which he replied he was taking a shower. He denied that he intended to harm himself or others. Griffen told the officer that he intended to be gone for six-to-eight days and was rambling and saying things the officer could not understand. He then hung up and was unable to be reached when the officer attempted to call him back.
- The officer then contacted Les Pico, the director of player development with the Vikings. Pico stated that Griffen had been struggling the last few weeks and was facing a possible divorce from his wife and was becoming increasingly unstable in the workplace. Pico said that management sent Griffen and his representation a letter on Sept. 20 stating that he would not be allowed to return to the team until he underwent a mental health evaluation.
- Pico told the officer that Griffen suffers from paranoia and has been repeating himself a lot lately. Griffen called Pico and wanted to meet with him at his house, but then changed the location to the Hotel Ivy. Upon his arrival, Griffen forgot that he told Pico he wanted to meet with him and would not speak to him. Pico stated that while the organization is concerned, nothing he has said or done would have required immediate action. The two agreed that nothing that had been done would warrant him being forced to seek treatment immediately.
- After the officer was done speaking to Pico, he received a text message from Tiffany saying that she needed to speak to him. She had been informed by the fiancee of Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes that Griffen had just broken into their home and jumped through some bushes while not wearing a shirt. The officer said he would go check it out, but then Tiffany received a phone call stating that a man had her husband in his car and wanted to know what to do with him. She informed him to bring Griffen to their home.
- The officer called the man who had Griffen, who said he was making a U-turn and was heading back to Hotel Ivy. The officer informed Minneapolis Police that Griffen was heading back to Hotel Ivy and that their squads should respond. A short while after, Tiffany called the officer and said that Griffen had been returned home.
- The officer (Officer No. 1) arrived at Griffen's home, along with support from another officer (we'll refer to him as Officer No. 2). A black pickup truck approached the Griffen home at a high rate of speed before a man got out of the car yelling about how Griffen was crazy and that he did not feel safe. Officers had him pull off to the side to wait for more help to arrive.
- Officers No. 1 and 2 approached Griffen at his home and No. 2 spoke to him, stating that Griffen made comments about "777" and that he went to the Waynes residence because "God made me do it." Tiffany told police that they knew the Waynes, but were not good enough friends to where Griffen would just let himself in. Officers told Griffen that the Vikings wanted him to have his mental health evaluated and he agreed to go to the hospital. Paramedics were then requested to the scene.
- Officer No. 2 informed No. 1 that Griffen continued to make comments about "777" and said that people were trying to kill him. Plans were then made to transport him to Fairview Hospital in Edina.
- A third officer spoke to the man who sped up to the Griffen home and he informed police that he was filling up his car at a local gas station when Griffen approached him and said he knew him. The man stated that he did not know him, but that Griffen had climbed into his passenger seat and asked to be driven around, leaving his car behind at the gas station. The man called Griffen's wife and requested he be driven home. It was later discovered that the man worked at an establishment the Griffens frequented, which is how the connection was made. He gave Griffen a sweatshirt to wear because he was shirtless and officers were going to retrieve it, but that he said Griffen could keep it so he had something to wear. Authorities went to the gas station to see if there was anything suspicious inside of Griffen's car, to which they found nothing.
- Paramedics left the scene of the Griffen home at 6:11 p.m. CT to take him to the hospital, but authorities were again called to Co. Rd 44 and Stonebridge. Upon police's arrival, Griffen was out of the ambulance with his hands up. Officer No. 1 told Griffen to get back into the ambulance, to which he obliged. Paramedics informed Officer No. 1 that a few deer sprinted across the road in front of the ambulance and that Griffen got up and jumped out of the ambulance because he was afraid someone was going to shoot him. He initially refused to lay down on the stretcher, but Officers No. 1 and 2 were able to convince him to do so. Officer No. 2 then followed the ambulance to the hospital.
- No criminal charges were filed, as police determined that there was not a crime committed.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman put out a statement following the news on Monday, stating that, "We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard. We are currently focused on Everson's well-being and providing the appropriate support for him and his family."
https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Everson-Griffen-full-police-report-summary-122492199/
Holy shit. Really hoping that Griffen gets the help he needs as he really seems to be in a very dark place right now. I doubt he will be back with the team anytime soon.
im sure CTE has occured to everyone. i hope to god that is not the case. Football is the last thing we should be concerned about now--just hoping he gets help and relief. He's in a scary place. Saying prayers for EV.
The man needs help and meds. No crime committed but that will change if he's left untreated.
Man, that is just sad. Glad he is finally getting help.
This far transcends the game.
Hopefully he can work through these issues of paranoia, resolve family issues, and maintain some stability.
Family first, we're all with you Griff!
Hang tough 100%
Quote: @suncoastvike said:
The man needs help and meds. No crime committed but that will change if he's left untreated.
Yes thank God he wasn't harmed or didn't harm anyone. Glad he didn't have any guns around, sounds kinda like he knew this was coming by some of the comment of his wife.
It's so damn sad. But it is a reminder that mental illness is a powerful thing. His strength to admit he needed help is huge. That's the thing to hang on to. I am so glad that he is getting the help he needs.
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