Federal prosecutors launch probe into whether Louisiana State Police tried to block investigation into white cops filmed punching and dragging terrified black man, 49, who died during his arrest

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Louisiana State Police leadership obstructed justice to protect the white troopers seen on long-withheld body camera video punching, dragging and tasing black driver Ronald Greene during his fatal 2019 arrest.

The new investigation, which was ordered by the FBI last month, marks a significant expansion of the federal inquiry that began as a blow-by-blow examination of the troopers' violence against Greene and their apparent efforts to cover it up. 

Investigators are now moving up the chain of command, probing allegations that supervisors disregarded the video evidence. They are also looking into whether cops quashed a recommendation to arrest one of the troopers and pressed a state prosecutor not to bring any charges on the same day that bodycam footage of Greene's fatal arrest was released, triggering nationwide outrage. 

'Their investigation is far beyond just use of force,' said Ron Haley, an attorney for Greene's family, who met with federal authorities at length last month. 'They're casting a very wide net.'

A new federal investigation has been launched into the death of black Louisiana motorist Ronald Greene in May 2019. Greene died after being arrested by white troopers 

This image from Louisiana State Trooper Dakota DeMoss' body camera shows troopers hold a bloodied Greene during his arrest on May 10, 2019, which followed a 115mph chase

Video that was released in May 2021 shows troopers bashing and dragging Greene, who is heard screaming: 'I'm scared!' This image shows Trooper Kory York standing over Greene lying on his stomach 

The development comes as federal prosecutors are preparing to present their findings to a grand jury by the end of the summer, which could bring the first charges of any kind in a case that's long been shrouded in secrecy.

Greene's deadly arrest on May 10, 2019, came after he eluded a stop for a traffic violation and led troopers on a chase near Monroe at speeds topping 115mph. 

Troopers initially told Greene's relatives the 49-year-old died from a crash at the end of the chase, despite his car showing little damage. It was only later that state police acknowledged there had been a struggle.

It took a total of 474 days for state police to launch an internal inquiry and officials from Gov. John Bel Edwards on down refused to release body camera video for more than two years. 

That was until the AP obtained and published it in May, showing white troopers beating Greene and dragging him by his ankle shackles, even as he pleaded for mercy and wailed, 'I'm your brother! I'm scared! I'm scared!'

A key point under scrutiny in the federal investigation came just a day after the AP published the video, when the head of the state police, Col. Lamar Davis, and his chief of staff, Lt. Col. Doug Cain, made a hastily arranged attempt to dissuade state prosecutors from charging troopers in the Greene case, sources claimed. 

Davis and Cain traveled to District Attorney John Belton's office in Ruston - more than 200 miles north of Baton Rouge - on May 20 to review the video frame by frame and make the case that the troopers' actions were justified. Belton, who told colleagues he was deeply disturbed by the footage, referred the case to federal authorities in September 2019 but has not ruled out prosecuting the troopers at the state level.

Capt. Nick Manale, a state police spokesman, said the agency is continuing to cooperate with the federal investigation and 'intends to release all documents and investigative files at the appropriate time.' He said the federal inquiry 'prevents the release of further information.'

Chris Hollingsworth , a veteran trooper, was seen on the video stunning Greene. He was later recorded boasting to a colleague that he choked Greene and beat the 'ever living f*** out of him.' Trooper Kory York was seen on camera dragging Greene on his stomach 

Bloodstains are seen on the shield and uniform of Hollingsworth after Greene's arrest

Davis has declined repeated interview requests. Cain did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Of particular interest to federal investigators is why the state police failed to arrest Chris Hollingsworth, a veteran trooper who can be seen on the video stunning Greene and was later recorded boasting to a colleague that he choked Greene and beat the 'ever living f*** out of him.'

Seven days after Greene´s death, on May 17, 2019, state police detectives told their superiors that Hollingsworth should be arrested for turning off his dashboard and body cameras before the high-speed pursuit and later when he realized one of the devices was recording him talking about beating Greene, according to notes written by the lead investigator, Det. Albert Paxton.

But state police commanders in Monroe pressured their detectives to hold off, the notes say. Among those present at the meeting were Capt. John Peters, the regional troop commander, and Bob Brown, then the major over statewide criminal investigations.

The meeting became 'very heated,' the notes say, with the commanders warning that charging Hollingsworth would cause investigators to 'have issues with patrol.'

The detectives also suggested Hollingsworth be charged with aggravated battery. Peters responded, 'What is evidence and who decides?'

This undated photo provided by the family of Ronald Greene via the Baton Rouge chapter of the NAACP in September 2020 shows injuries on his body

Hollingsworth was never arrested and was only fired in September after he admitted to bashing Greene's head with a flashlight - a use of deadly force internal investigators said was unjustified. The 46-year-old died in a single-car highway crash in Monroe hours after he learned of his firing.

DeMoss was only recently fired and a third, Master Trooper Kory York who dragged Greene on his stomach by his ankle shackles, has been suspended. 

Also under scrutiny, according to those familiar with the probe, is why the state police failed to provide the body camera video and even the most basic police reports for the official autopsy. 

It listed Greene's cause of death as 'cocaine induced agitated delirium complicated by motor vehicle collision, physical struggle, inflicted head injury and restraint.' The forensic pathologists, however, say the lack of supporting materials left them unable to determine whether the crash or excessive police force caused his most severe injuries, including a fractured breastbone and lacerated aorta.

'There were lacerations of the head inconsistent with motor vehicle collision injury,' the 10-page autopsy report says. 'These injuries are most consistent with multiple impact sites from a blunt object.'

The FBI recently asked the pathologist to make another attempt at such a conclusion accounting for the evidence state police initially failed to provide.

As federal prosecutors home in on possible obstruction charges, state police leaders have redoubled their hunt for leaks in a case that's steeped the agency in controversy and divided its ranks.

At least six high-ranking state police officials - including Peters, Brown and Col. Kevin Reeves, the head of the state police at the time of Greene's death - have retired amid the growing fallout from the case.

Last month, Peters announced his departure as head of the Monroe-based Troop F - which has become notorious for its harsh treatment of black suspects - with an email saying, 'Shamefully, we have now seen there are those within our own ranks tearing this agency apart from the inside.'

Peters didn't mention in his email that he recently received a 32-hour suspension for signing off on a use-of-force report without reviewing the body camera footage of his troopers beating yet another black motorist, according to state police records. 

Troopers initially told Greene's relatives the 49-year-old died from a crash at the end of the chase, despite his silver Toyota showing little damage

Peters, who was among the commanders to sign off on the use-of-force reports in Greene's case, told investigators it was 'common practice' for him to approve such documents without reviewing the materials. He declined to comment to AP.

Video of Greene's May 2019 arrest in Monroe County depicts what happened when state troopers pulled him over after the barber led them on a 115mph chase. He died in an ambulance after suffering a cardiac incident during the arrest.

It begins with Hollingsworth and DeMoss rushing Greene's SUV, as he can be seen appearing to raise his hands and repeating, 'OK, OK. I'm sorry.'

Greene is also heard to say: 'I’m your brother! I’m scared! I’m scared!'

Hollingsworth shocks Greene with a stun gun within seconds through the driver´s side window as both troopers demand he get out of the vehicle.

Greene exits through the passenger side as Hollingsworth appears to wrestle him to the ground, putting him in a chokehold and punching him in the face while another trooper can be heard calling him a 'stupid mother***r.'

Hollingsworth strikes Greene multiple times and appears to lie on one of his arms before he is finally handcuffed.

The troopers then leave the burly man unattended, facedown and moaning for more than nine minutes, as they use sanitizer wipes to wash blood off their hands and faces.

'I hope this guy ain´t got f***ing AIDS,' one of the troopers can be heard saying.

At one point, another trooper, Kory York, yanks Greene´s leg shackles and briefly drags the man, facedown on his stomach.

Moments before, York was seen kicking Greene as he tried to shift from his stomach onto his side in an apparent attempt to breathe more easily.

At least six troopers were on the scene of the arrest but not all had their body cameras on.

In this August 28, 2020 file photo, family members of Ronald Greene listen to speakers as demonstrators gather for the March on Washington

After a several-minute stretch in which Greene is not seen on camera, he appears again, limp, unresponsive and bleeding from his head and face. He is then loaded onto an ambulance gurney, his arm cuffed to the bedrail.

Leading the federal inquiry is Assistant US Attorney John Luke Walker, a Lafayette-based prosecutor who won accolades for his role in a sprawling child exploitation case that resulted in dozens of convictions.

Walker is also investigating Louisiana state troopers' beatings of at least two other black motorists. They include Aaron Larry Bowman, who was pulled over near his Monroe home just 20 days after Greene's death and was struck 18 times with a flashlight, leaving him with a broken jaw, ribs and wrist, and a gash to the head.

Trooper Jacob Brown, the son of Bob Brown, was arrested in December on second-degree battery and malfeasance charges in Bowman's beating. Brown did not respond to requests for comment.

Bowman's lawyer, Donecia Banks-Miley, said federal prosecutors met with her and her client in June and showed them Brown's 2019 body camera footage for the first time.

'It's been covered up for so long,' Banks-Miley said. 'It's just been covered up.'