FILE-Family members of Ronald Greene listen to speakers during the "Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" protest against racism and police brutality, at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 2020, in Washington D.C. (Photo by MICHAEL M. SANTIA …
Louisiana officials agreed to pay a $4.8 million settlement to the family of Ronald Greene, a Black driver who died during a violent roadside arrest involving five white police officers in 2019.
The settlement would end a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by Greene’s family. Louisiana State Police officers beat and used stun guns on Greene in the incident.
This settlement is subject to approval by the Louisiana Legislature, the Associated Press reported, citing two people with direct knowledge of the lawsuit who were not authorized to publicly discuss the agreement.
RELATED: Ronald Greene: Louisiana officers charged in deadly 2019 arrest
In 2025, federal prosecutors declined to bring charges against the police officers involved in Greene’s arrest.
What happened in the Ronald Greene traffic stop incident?
Dig deeper:
On May 10, 2019, Ronald Greene was stopped by Louisiana State Police after a high-speed chase. The Associated Press reported that troopers initially sought to pull Greene over for an unspecified traffic violation.
Louisiana State Police refused to release video footage of the arrest, initially alleging that the 49-year-old man died after crashing into a tree during the pursuit.
RELATED: New autopsy rejects Louisiana State Police claim Ronald Greene died in crash
The AP later obtained video of the traffic stop that showed troopers using stun guns on Greene, who was unarmed, as he apologized to officers for leading them on the chase.
Footage showed troopers wrestling Greene to the ground, placing him in a chokehold, and punching him. Troopers dragged Greene face down on the ground while his hands were cuffed and his legs were shackled, then left him lying on the ground without providing medical aid.
According to the AP, Greene’s death was among several beatings of Black men by Louisiana troopers that led the Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into the state police’s use of force.
In January 2025, during the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration, the Justice Department found that Louisiana State Police participated in a statewide pattern of excessive force during arrests and car pursuits. However, months later, the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump rejected these findings.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.