West Monroe family still demanding justice after in-custody death

UNION PARISH, La. (KNOE) - Family members of a man who died while in Louisiana State Police custody are speaking out.

Federal authorities announced Tuesday, September 15, they were launching an investigation into the 2019 death of Ronald Greene.

“I won’t say what’s on my mind, but I’m pissed. I’m so pissed, but I’m a good pissed because we’re going to get results,” said Mona Hardin, Greene’s mother.

According to LSP officials, a chase began when Greene failed to stop for a traffic violation near the University of Louisiana Monroe.

Greene led deputies on a chase that ended after he crashed his car near Highway 2 and Highway 143 in Union Parish.

Troopers said Greene was arrested after a struggle with the responding officers and died on his way to the hospital.

“It’s so unbelievable this is the world we live in,” said Hardin.

Greene’s death drew new attention after his family filed a lawsuit this year claiming troopers “brutalized” him and “left him beaten, bloodied and in cardiac arrest.”

Attorney Lee Merritt is the representing attorney for the Greene family.

“Although we are now thoroughly convinced of what we eventually put into that complaint that there was extreme misconduct involved in Ronald Greene’s murder and that people need to go to jail and the system needs to change,” said Merrit.

Merrit said police have declined multiple requests to release body cam footage from that night. He believes that video will prove without a doubt Greene’s death was unjustified.

“We were met with so much resistance that we got the feeling that there were probably something more there,” said Merritt.

Hardin said she’s met dozens of other families over the past year that are in similar circumstances. She now feels a new responsibility to not only fight for her son, but others that are still seeking justice.

“Throughout the family, friends, we took so much for granted and everything’s totally changed for where we’re headed,” said Hardin. “It’s just time for a change and it’s going to happen.”

Louisiana State Police Capt. Chavez Cammon released a statement in response to this story:

I can confirm that State Police immediately began an investigation into this incident. State Police forwarded its findings to the Union Parish District Attorney’s Office. Our agency is also cooperating with federal officials as it relates to this case. There is an administrative and criminal investigation into this incident currently ongoing.

All body camera video and any reports associated with this investigation are a part of the case report and are not available to be released at this time due to the ongoing administrative and criminal investigation.

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