Louisiana Reaches Settlement in Ronald Greene’s Death
In a significant development, Louisiana has reached a tentative settlement of $4.8 million with the family of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist whose death in 2019 during a roadside arrest sparked widespread attention. The arrest involved five white officers and was marked by violence, as revealed by two individuals familiar with the agreement.
The proposed settlement aims to resolve a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by Greene’s family. The case gained national prominence following the release of footage by the Associated Press in 2021, which showed Louisiana State Police officers engaging in aggressive actions, including punching and kicking Greene during the arrest near Monroe.
This agreement, however, still requires the approval of the Louisiana Legislature, as noted by the sources who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
A spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police, Capt. Russell Graham, stated that the agency is unable to comment on the specifics of the settlement since the process is not yet complete.
Efforts to reach Mona Hardin, Greene’s mother, for a comment on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Despite the gravity of the incident, federal prosecutors decided last year not to press charges against the troopers involved in Greene’s arrest.
For two years, the details surrounding Greene’s death remained unclear. Initially, state police claimed that Greene, aged 49, died after colliding with a tree during a high-speed chase. However, later-obtained video footage revealed that troopers used stun guns on Greene, who was unarmed and apologizing for the chase. He was wrestled to the ground, placed in a chokehold, and subjected to physical violence. The officers dragged him on the ground while he was handcuffed and shackled, failing to provide any medical assistance.
The initial attempt to stop Greene was reportedly due to an unspecified traffic violation.
In the closing days of President Joe Biden’s administration in January 2025, the Justice Department concluded that the Louisiana State Police had a pattern of using excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits. However, these findings were later withdrawn under President Donald Trump’s administration, several months later.
This investigation was initiated in 2022 following an AP report that uncovered numerous incidents of brutality by the troopers.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
