Foley Unarmed When Shot

San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley apparently was unarmed when an off-duty Coronado police officer shot him near his upscale suburban home, authorities said Tuesday.

Foley was wounded early Sunday by officer Aaron Mansker, who joined the Coronado Police Department in August 2005.

“To my knowledge, I don’t believe Foley did have a weapon, even though I was told he reached into his waistband with his right hand,” San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Brugos said.

Mansker has been put on paid administrative leave, said Leah Corbin, a police spokeswoman in Coronado. She declined to release any other details about the officer.

There was no update Tuesday on Foley’s condition. On Monday, his agent, David Levine, said Foley was hospitalized in stable condition.

He is on the non-football injured reserve list, meaning he will miss the season and forfeit his pay, estimated at $775,000.

The sheriff’s department said the shooting occurred after Foley, who is 6 feet 4 and 265 pounds, got out of the vehicle near his home in Poway and began walking toward Mansker, who identified himself as an officer, said he was armed and fired a warning shot into the bushes.

Lisa Maree Gaut, a passenger in Foley’s vehicle, got behind the wheel and drove toward the police officer, authorities said. Mansker fired two shots at the car and avoided getting struck. Gaut was unharmed.

The sheriff’s department said Mansker fired at Foley when Foley reached into his pants with his right hand. He fired again when Foley continued to walk toward him, and then Foley fell to the ground.

The shooting occurred after Mansker followed a suspected drunk driver weaving in freeway traffic at speeds up to 90 mph.

Foley stopped three times, including at a red light after he got off the freeway. Mansker ordered him to pull over, but Foley drove away.

Brugos said that while Mansker was wearing his police badge on the right side of his belt, he didn’t believe he showed it to Foley from his car.

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Looking to bolster their special teams, the Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent receiver and kick returner Willie Ponder. Ponder spent the last three seasons with the New York Giants.

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The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with defensive tackle Robaire Smith.

Smith spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Titans, then left as a free agent for Houston, where he started 32 games at right end in the Texans’ 3-4 defense.

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The New Orleans Saints signed former Oakland Raiders linebacker Danny Clark and released safety Jay Bellamy.