The family of a Black motorist beaten to death by Louisiana state troopers has reopened its federal civil rights lawsuit against the state agency and several officers involved.
Proceedings in the federal complaint, originally filed in May 2020, had been stalled for two years as a criminal investigation into the officers’ use of force against Ronald Greene played out.
But in a , the U.S. Department of Justice announced that against the officers present. Video captured officers beating and using a Taser on Greene after a high-speed chase near Monroe.
Tayla Greene, Ronald’s daughter, petitioned for the stay to be lifted Monday, and Magistrate Judge Kayla McClusky signed an order Thursday putting the civil case back on track, U.S. Western District Court of Louisiana records show.
“It’s criminal activity by all those complicit in this,” Mona Hardin, Ronald Greene’s mother, maintained Friday. “People say you don’t want to step on any toes, you don’t want to do this and that. But we’ve done everything according to all procedures and we kept with protocol.
"Its vital, because if this isn’t done as it should be — I’ve always said that Louisiana needs to right this wrong. Just fix this. It’s lies, it’s cover up. And the killing of my Ronnie has been condoned, for the fact that we’re going into six years.”
Five troopers and a Union Parish deputy are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which alleges officers brutalized Ronald Greene the night of May 10, 2019. In late 2022, Judge McClusky set a July 17, 2024, trial date. But two months after the scheduling order, defense attorneys requested a stay until criminal charges against the officers were resolved.
Dakota DeMoss was one of the first troopers who arrived to the scene of Greene's beating and death. Leaked video from his body camera showed troopers repeatedly shocking and pummeling Greene. The Associated Press first publicized video of the beating in May 2021, sparking public outcry and suspicions of a long-running cover-up within State Police.
Footage of the deadly arrest sent shock waves across the state and became national news that prompted legislative hearings and federal investigations into the State Police.
Along with DeMoss, Union Parish sheriff’s deputy Christopher Harpin and retired Master Trooper Kory York, Capt. John Peters, Lt. John Clary and Sgt. Floyd McElroy also remain as defendants in the civil case.
In December 2022, five officers were indicted in state court on felonies that included negligent homicide and malfeasance in office. Those cases faltered, and prosecutors in the 3rd Judicial District dismissed the most serious charges against many of the officers.
Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth, the officer accused of the most violent behavior, died in a single-car crash in September 2020, hours after he was told he was being fired over his role in the Greene case, according to AP reports.
York, who originally faced a negligent homicide charge and eight counts of malfeasance, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery in October 2024. Harpin, the Union Parish deputy who arrived to the scene as troopers were struggling with Greene, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor simple battery last month. Authorities alleged he pepper sprayed Greene while the man was handcuffed. Harpin had a six-month jail stint deferred and was sentenced to probation, according to news reports.
State and federal authorities have said there was not enough evidence to prove the officers' guilt in Greene's killing beyond a reasonable doubt.
Greene was 49 when he died. His mother called the legal twists and turns in the aftermath a "travesty of the justice system" that have amounted to his killing being swept under the rug.
“This wreaks of a condoned killing of another Black man. This screams, if nothing else, that killer cops are above the law,” Hardin said. “It’s been such a horrible, horrific roller coaster. It’s impacted my family. We’re a close-knit family and it’s devastating. Ronnie was such a huge force, a big brother to my other children. And I’m crushed that no one cares when these injustices aren’t dealt with.
"It’s deeper than those that were stolen from us. It rips a family apart, and the system needs to be responsible."