Everson Griffen full police report summary

• 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
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%

@"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. 

Very sad.  He is currently in the best place for him to be.  Hopefully he can be diagnosed and can be stabilized with the proper meds.  Thoughts are Everson, Tiffany and the entire family.  These things are extremely hard to deal with but with the proper care can be dealt with. 

This sounds an awful lot like Junior Seau before his suicide.

@"Purplewhizz" said: This sounds an awful lot like Junior Seau before his suicide.

I hate admitting it but I  thought the same kind of thing. I thought about that KC player who killed his girlfriend then drove to the stadium to kill himself. I know it awful to think that but it crossed my mind how close this could have come if Griffin had a gun. His wife told police he didn't keep any guns in the house. Doesn't mean he didn't or couldn't get one she wouldn't know about.  Thank God it never went down that road. I hope and pray that he gets the help he needs. Not only for himself but also for his wife and those 3 young ones.  Man what a day this turn into. Information overload and the news just kept getting worse and scarier.

Read the police report PDF - it's attached to the bottom of that article.

Quote from the document: I approached on foot and Everson became upset because Tiffany called the police. I explained that we were contacted by several people and that we were there to help. Everson was talking really fast rambling about things or issues that were not relevant including saying "777." He said it was about God and asked if I was going to kill him. I again explained I was there to help and had Everson sit on a bench near the driveway.

Everson kept repeating himself and said he missed "doughnut club" at work and they made him leave. He stated he wasn't crazy, but he felt people weretrying to kill him. When asked who, he stated Tiffany, his mother in law, and everybody. Everson asked if I knew his parents and if I killed them.

When asked why he went to XXXXXXXXXX XX XX, he stated to check on his friend Trae. It should be noted that Trae is a co-worker of his and owns the home. I asked why he felt he needed to check on him and Everson said because God told him to. He also kept saying there were two signs in the front yard that said Happy Fall and "SHHHHH."

(Paraphrased)

Kim Klawitter, Vikings Director of Security, called police and requested he check on the wellness of Everson's wife and kids. He told police Vikings' staff was concerned about Griffen and what he may or may not do to himself and/or his wife and kids. "Kim said Griffen wasn't acting normal lately and that it's almost like he is having a nervous break down. ... it was so bad that the team told him not to play on Sunday and to get his head straight. Everson also showed up to practice Saturday morning 9-22 and was told not to. Kim stated he was at Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis and had to be removed by Minneapolis police as he was causing a disturbance and was headed back to his home in Minnetrista. Kim stated that just happened. I spoke to Kim while I was driving to Everson's and advise him I was pulling up the driveway and disconnected with him."

Everson is not there, but his wife and their nanny are at the home. The officer listens and records her story, documenting some interesting things. She states 'Griffen wakes up and leaves the house in the middle of the night from time to time fighting 'daemons' in his head' and that its "normal for him." She tells police he did that on the 16th, returned on the 18th, and asked "So who died?" and commented "I just want help." She told police he didn't make any sense and 'when she asked him what he was talking about, he told her to "get the fuck out."' She tricked him into thinking she left, telling police 'he left the house at 1157 hours to go to Hotel Ivy, which is where she said he was staying during the week.'

The police ask her if he as ever threatened to harm himself of others. She shows a text message where Griffen wrote, "i'm great, the best i've ever felt, I was always real ... i'm almost killed myself" Police asked if they own any weapons and she said 'no, there were no weapons in the house." She showed police other messages in which he stated he was done with the relationship but with no specifics about wanting to harm himself.

Eventually, the police tell her that nothing they have been told so far will allow them to place Griffen under a wellness hold but they would stay in touch.

Police contact Les Pico, Vikings Player Development Director. He tells police Griffen has really been struggling for the past few weeks, stating he is facing a possible divorce with his wife. "During practice this past week Everson has been explosive, screaming and yelling in the work place. Pico said that management sent him and his agent a letter on Thursday 20th stating he is not allowed back until he was a mental health evaluation. Pico raises concerning scenarios that have occurred and how the team was handling it to this point. The police tell Pico nothing they have heard warrants knocking on his door and saying, "you need to go in." Pico agreed.

As the conversation ended, Griffen's wife called and said Everson was at Trae Waynes house, that he jumped through some bushes shirtless and tried to break in. Police say they go check it out. A few minutes later she called back. She said she just got a phone call from an unknown male stating that he has her husband in his car and wanted to know what to do with him. She told the man to bring them to their house.

Police contact the unknown male immediately, who told police where he was and that he was bringing Griffen home. Then the male said he needed to make a U-Turn and heading to Hotel Ivy. They asked the male to hold the call while they contacted South Lake Mtka Police know what was happening in their jurisdiction; he hung up. Police scrambled to coordinate a response at Hotel Ivy. A few minutes later, Griffen's wife contacts the police stating Griffen was now at home.

Two officers respond to the Griffen's home. A black truck was coming down the driveway. They ordered the vehicle to stop. Male driver was making comments about how Everson was crazy and that he didn't feel safe at all and needed to get out of there. The male was shaking and was trying to leave. He was identified and pulled to the side. Everson was outside yelling. Two officers spoke to Griffen. He was making comments about "777" and that he went to Waynes house because "God made me do it" and went on to say that there was a sign on the door saying "welcome fall" so that's why he went there. ... The police told him that he needed to go to a hospital to get checked out. They told him the team wanted a mental health evaluation done. Everson agreed to go to the hospital... on the way he tells officers people are trying to kill him and continues to reference 777 and god.

Meanwhile, the police are getting more information from the unknown male; he was filling up gas when Griffen pulled into the station in his vehicle. Griffen was walking around the pumps when he recognized the male. The male stated he did not know Griffen and that Griffen got in the passenger seat and had him drive him around. The unknown male called Griffen's wife, who instructed he bring Everson home.  Police discover the man Griffen was with works at an establishment the Griffen family frequents, and that is believed to be why Everson made a comment of saying he knows the man. The male told police he 'gave Griffen his sweathshirt because he didn't have a shirt to wear'

On the way to the hospital, Griffen jumped out of the ambulance in fear 'someone was going to shoot him.'

---

It seems to me, that the Vikings did a hell of a job contacting police to check on him and his family. What they did is not an easy thing to do.  And it's incredible that as soon as an officer interviewed his wife and got off the phone with the Vikings, thinking they had no grounds to intervene, that it really started to snowball in their lap. And even more awesome that in running into Griffen in the process, they got him to verbally commit to going without having to force it (well, until he jumped the ambulance and was escorted back inside).

I will say.. find the divorce aspect unsettling. The team was aware of him going through a divorce and believed his outbursts and behavior was related to going through it. It got bad enough to a point they were concerned enough to call the police to check on him and his family. His wife showed police text messages from him saying he wanted to leave her. ... then he ends up breaking in shirtless at Waynes house? With all of this stuff, I can't help but wonder if there was some kind of connection there or if maybe there was some heated stuff going on in the locker room? "God told him to..." ... glad Waynes and his fiance are ok...

Griffen brought up being kicked out and missing the 'donut club' and reiterated he isn't crazy. He tried to show up to practice after the fact. Perhaps a few teammates got vocal about his behavior, Waynes being on, and he went to his house? Speculating there...

Can't say I condone his actions at home (which are vauge at this point), the hotel (threatening to shoot an employee, doesn't own a gun) or the actions the team has been dealing with (outbursts)... but I hope he gets help and that this isn't a CTE issue but a correctable, irrational mindset - a "breakdown," dealing with divorce and his rejection of those reaching out to help... 

It doesn't have to be CTE, it can be many other things that are just related to mental illness. But he's been suffering for awhile now and has been able to keep it under control it seems. If Tiffany wanted a divorce, that could have started the descent. But my guess is its been rough for awhile for her and the kids. 

I agree. It could be CTE related or it could be just how he got wired, for lack of a medical term. Either way at this point you treat it as a mental illness regardless. We have no idea how long this has been going on. His wife's comments in the police report state he had a history of wandering off for days fighting his demons. Was the possible pending divorce the trigger or was the illness and fear associated with it the cause? Did she want him to get help and he insisted he doesn't need it. As more then not they do. She might have felt she needed to concider whats best for her and the kids. The report also stated she didn't want to be seen speaking to police by her husband. That clearly states a life of fear to me. 
The good thing is he didn't appear at any point to get violent other then disruptive. So he could control himself to that point. However dealing with someone who is paranoid you need to be very careful. Their perceived threat level even if viewed by others as non- threatening is very real to them. Potentially dangerous is not out of the question.

Part of the issue with a guy the size of Griffen is the fear/intimidation factor. Even if he hasn't been violent, when he's ranting and animated, you can't help but be worried about possible physical violence. He's heavily muscled and would be pretty much unstoppable if he became highly agitated. I'm sure the police were on their highest alert when engaging him. Its a tense situation with a guy that large for everyone involved. Being calm when interacting is essential, but at the same time, you are on edge.

@"StickyBun" said: Part of the issue with a guy the size of Griffen is the fear/intimidation factor. Even if he hasn't been violent, when he's ranting and animated, you can't help but be worried about possible physical violence. He's heavily muscled and would be pretty much unstoppable if he became highly agitated. I'm sure the police were on their highest alert when engaging him. Its a tense situation with a guy that large for everyone involved. Being calm when interacting is essential, but at the same time, you are on edge.

Absolutely. That guy who's truck he jumped in was likely not just being a good submaritan. He obviously chose not to press the issue. However as the report states as soon as he seen police he bailed from that truck and told them help me. In other times and places that sounds damn close to carjacking if not kidnapping. If that had been a normal sized human he might have ended it right there in the gas station. Griffen has people looking out for him. He has to do right by them now and get help.

The situation to-date could have gone off the rails a lot more terribly then it has...

Fraught with danger for many, including EG. 

And yes, based on what we know, the Vikings appear to have handled this well as an organization so far. 

@"suncoastvike" said:

@"Purplewhizz" said: This sounds an awful lot like Junior Seau before his suicide.

I hate admitting it but I  thought the same kind of thing. I thought about that KC player who killed his girlfriend then drove to the stadium to kill himself. I know it awful to think that but it crossed my mind how close this could have come if Griffin had a gun. His wife told police he didn't keep any guns in the house. Doesn't mean he didn't or couldn't get one she wouldn't know about.  Thank God it never went down that road. I hope and pray that he gets the help he needs. Not only for himself but also for his wife and those 3 young ones.  Man what a day this turn into. Information overload and the news just kept getting worse and scarier.