Four Louisiana State Troopers face charges regarding their alleged “use of force” encounters as part of an investigation that was spurred by the mysterious death of a Black motorist who state police alleged died in a car accident after a chase, but a medical examine found stun gun punctures on his back, The Advocate reports.

Not all the officers awaiting charges were involved in the death of Ronald Greene, but all the troopers were part of State Police Troop F in Monroe, Louisiana.  Other officers have been charged in connection with other incidents.

State police have obstructed the release of body cam footage in the death of Greene in May 2019, who police claim died in a car accident when he vehicle hit a tree after a chase.  However, the Associated Press obtained body cam footage and an audio tape in which troopers used slurs and expletives as they hogtied Greene after dragging him out of the vehicle.  Greene is heard saying “I’m sorry” repeatedly. 

Greene was unarmed during the encounter, and the medical examine reported that he died of cardiac arrest after the accident.  The body cam footage shows troopers restraining Greene’s arms and legs.  Police later claimed Greene was dead when they arrived at his crashed vehicle, having died upon impact.

An officer involved in Greene’s death, Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth, died in a one-car crash one day after being informed in September that he would be charged.  Another was involved in a car accident in which he rear-ended a car at high speed, leaving a child and a teenager in the back seat of the vehicle he hit dead; the trooper survived the crash.

In other incident, Trooper Jacob Brown faces one count each of aggravated second-degree battery and malfeasance in office after being arrested in December 2020 for beating a Black suspect, Aaron Bowman, with his police flashlight during an April 2019 encounter.  Bowman survived and is suing the state agency overseeing the state police.

The State Police refused to turn over bodycam footage of Bowman’s arrest, impeding the investigation.  Prosecutors, however, received video of the incident from a resident who recorded the beating on a home security system.  Bowman has broken ribs, a broken arm and lacerations on his head after being dragged and beaten by Brown.

“Although we once again face a situation that will undoubtedly bring negative public attention to our agency, we must remain committed to holding each other accountable,” Col. Lamar Davis, commander of the troop, wrote in the message, a copy of which was obtained by the Advocate. “This will build trust internally as well as externally in the communities we serve.”

Troop F is facing an on-going federal civil rights investigation from the US Department of Justice for a series of incidents in which troopers were accused of excessive force in encounters with Black men.