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Key Charge Dropped in Ronald Greene Case as Trial Approaches
On Thursday, prosecutors in Louisiana dismissed the most serious remaining charge against Kory York, a trooper involved in the 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene. The charge of negligent homicide was dropped just weeks before York’s trial, raising concerns about accountability in a case that has drawn national attention and outrage.
This latest development marks a significant regression in the case, which initially saw five officers indicted following the violent altercation and arrest of Greene. The 49-year-old Black motorist died after being subjected to an array of aggressive tactics, including being punched, pepper-sprayed, and ultimately restrained in a manner that impeded his breathing.
With only two officers now facing charges—felony malfeasance counts against York and another officer—there is a diminished likelihood that any significant prison time will result from Greene’s death, which was initially attributed to a car accident by law enforcement.
Mona Hardin, Greene’s mother, expressed her profound grief and frustration following the recent charge dismissal. “This whole thing started with a lie and a coverup, and it’s going to end the same way,” Hardin stated tearfully, emphasizing the perceived lack of justice for her son. “They killed my son, and no one cares.”
Greene’s death ignited a wave of national outrage, catalyzing a broader examination of police practices in Louisiana, especially concerning the treatment of Black individuals. This incident has drawn the scrutiny of the U.S. Justice Department, which has launched an ongoing civil rights investigation into the state’s police department following similar cases of misconduct.
Nonetheless, the dismissal of charges reveals a significant challenge in prosecuting the case: authorities have struggled to clearly determine the precise cause of Greene’s death during the arrest. Autopsy findings indicated several potential factors contributing to his demise, such as the use of a stun gun, physical altercations, and pre-existing health issues, yet no definitive conclusion was reached regarding causality.
Union Parish District Attorney John Belton noted that although a grand jury had initially indicted York for negligent homicide, the available evidence “does not meet the ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard necessary to secure a conviction.” Furthermore, Belton dropped an additional malfeasance charge related to the allegation that Greene may have been pepper-sprayed while handcuffed.
York’s attorney, Mike Small, welcomed the dismissal, asserting that the case should never have gone to indictment. Small remains optimistic about securing York’s exoneration during the trial scheduled for October 28, stating that a fair examination of the video evidence will lead the jury to recognize the absence of wrongdoing on his client’s part.
Greene’s death has remained shrouded in controversy since its inception. State authorities initially informed family members that he died in a car crash following a police chase, a narrative quickly contested by medical professionals who had seen Greene’s battered body. An internal investigation by the state police did not commence for over a year after the incident, during which time officials refused to release body-camera footage that would later reveal the severity of police actions during Greene’s arrest.
The release of that footage in 2021 showed a chaotic encounter in which troopers surrounded Greene as he raised his hands and pleaded for mercy. The tape captured the extreme measures taken against him, including multiple uses of a stun gun and physical assaults that have led experts to critique the actions of law enforcement as excessively brutal.
As advocates for justice continue to call attention to Greene’s case, Hardin’s determination remains impossible to overlook. She has traveled widely, seeking accountability for her son, and vows not to lay his ashes to rest until justice prevails. Yet, her recent reflections cast doubt on whether that moment will ever arrive. “I hate that my son is one of countless others,” she lamented. “There’s so much that needs to change in Louisiana, but decisions like this prevent that change from happening.”
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abcnews.go.com