NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana officials tentatively agreed to a $4.8 million settlement with the family of Ronald Greene to resolve a federal wrongful death lawsuit over his 2019 roadside arrest. The agreement, which involves the state police and a local sheriff's office, is subject to approval by the Louisiana Legislature.

"The process has not yet been finalized," Louisiana State Police Capt. Russell Graham said when asked to comment on the terms of the settlement.

Greene, a Black motorist, died during a violent arrest carried out by five white officers after troopers initially sought to pull him over for an unspecified traffic violation on May 10, 2019. State police initially claimed Greene died after crashing into a tree during a high-speed chase, and photos of his body on a gurney showed he had a bruised and battered face. His sport-utility vehicle had only minor damage after the crash, and a hospital report noted he had a pair of stun gun prongs in his back.

Body-worn camera footage of Greene's death outside Monroe was withheld for two years and published by the AP in 2021. The video showed troopers repeatedly shocked Greene with stun guns before he could get out of his vehicle as he apologized for leading them on the chase. One trooper wrestled him to the ground, put him in a chokehold and punched him in the face. Troopers then dragged Greene facedown while his hands were cuffed and his legs were shackled, and left him lying without providing aid.

"I'm your brother! I'm scared! I'm scared!" Greene said in the footage.

In late 2022, a state grand jury indicted troopers Dakota DeMoss, Kory York, John Clary and Gage Hollingsworth, and deputy Chris Harpin on charges ranging from negligent homicide to malfeasance. York and Harpin later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery charges. Hollingsworth died in a high-speed, single-car wreck in 2020 within hours of being told he would be fired over his role in the case. Federal prosecutors did not pursue charges against any officers.

The Justice Department launched an investigation in 2022 after an AP investigation exposed multiple incidents of force by state troopers. In January 2025, the department found that Louisiana State Police engaged in a statewide pattern of excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits. Several months later, the Justice Department under President Donald Trump rescinded those findings.