By WWL-Radio | September 23, 2020
State Trooper Chris Hollingsworth, who was set to be fired for his role in the death of a Black man in police custody, has died from injuries sustained in a single-car crash near Monroe. The FBI is investigating whether Hollingsworth and other troopers covered up how Ronald Greene of West Monroe died in May of 2019.
President of Metropolitan Crime Commission Rafael Goyeneche says State Police has done a poor job investigating.
“The manner in which the State Police has handled this investigation provides more questions than it does answers,” said Goyeneche.
State Police originally reported that Greene died in a high-speed chase, but his family says they’ve uncovered evidence that shows Greene may have been assaulted by Troopers who attempted to arrest him. Goyeneche wonders why this new information is coming out over a year later.
“An improper use force of investigation could have and should have been concluded within a few weeks of the May 2019 incident,” said Goyeneche.
Multiple media reports say Hollingsworth received a notice of termination a day before he got involved in a single-vehicle wreck. Goyeneche asks why it took 15 months before State Police took action against Hollingsworth.
“Because there was body cam footage, there were witnesses there and I think the public is owed an explanation,” said Goyeneche.
Governor John Bel Edwards said on Tuesday that he has complete confidence in the head of State Police, Colonel Kevin Reeves, as they investigate Greene’s death.