Ronald Greene family attorney says criminal case ongoing, civil rights case stalled
Greene’s family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Louisiana State Police. In response, the State of Louisiana filed an appeal. The civil rights case is on hold while the 5th Circuit Court responds.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) - It’s been nearly two years since Ronald Greene died in Union Parish while in the custody of Louisiana State Police. Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents Greene’s family, said arrests may come any day.
Merritt said their mission is to hold the troopers involved accountable.
“The family has been waiting for the dams to break and for consequences to go forward against Troop F,” Merritt said.
State police initially blamed Greene’s death on a high-speed chase crash. They have been tight-lipped about the case ever since.
Greene’s family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Louisiana State Police. In response, the State of Louisiana filed an appeal.
“The State of Louisiana has filed for an interlocutory appeal in the civil case. [To appeal] The federal civil rights action the family brought against them. They (the state) filed for qualified immunity. They were denied qualified immunity by the district courts, and they filed for an appeal to the 5th Circuit,” explained Merritt, who represents Greene’s family.
He said the civil case is on hold pending the 5th Circuit Court’s response to the state’s appeal.
“And that’s from a civil perspective. Any day now, the family’s looking forward to arrests for criminal accountability for these men. There is an ongoing federal investigation into the actions of these officers,” Merritt said.
The case is getting national attention. The Greene family already met with the Trump Administration. Now, Merritt said the family wants to take its claims of cover-up and corruption to the White House for a second time.
“The family has met with the White House at least once last year but has not met with the Biden Administration. Looking forward to setting up a meeting with the Biden Administration to see what the new Department of Justice will do to hold these men accountable,” Merritt explained.
Merritt said Greene’s family is planning protests to commemorate the two years since Greene’s death and two years without accountability.
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