Text messages obtained by the Associated Press suggest that Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards may have been aware that state police officers had engaged in a lengthy struggle with a black man who died in their custody.
The governor of Louisiana spoke during a news conference about the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The photo was taken by David J. Phillip.
Ronald Greene, a 49-year-old black man, died in February of last year after state police tased him, punched him in the face and dragged him to the ground while he begged for mercy, following an alleged high-speed chase in rural north Louisiana.
After the incident, state police told the public and the family that he died in a car crash.
According to the AP, Kevin Reeves sent a text message to Edward about nine hours after Greene died, telling him of a "violent, lengthy struggle" before he became unresponsive.
The video of the violent encounter was published by the AP more than two years after the death of the man.
The governor later called the state troopers actions "incredibly disturbing" but continued to suggest that the death was caused by a car crash.
The office of the governor did not respond to a request for comment from Forbes, but a spokeswoman told the AP that the governor does not direct criminal investigations.
Before Friday's report, little had been known about what the governor knew immediately after the incident, though calls for more scrutiny into his role have grown. An FBI-ordered review of Greene's autopsy last year ruled out a car crash as the cause of death, instead listing a number of factors, including his cocaine use. The police response amounts to a cover-up.
I'm your brother! I'm scared! I'm scared! I can be heard on body camera footage begging with state troopers.
It is not clear what led to the high-speed chase that police said took place before the arrest and death of Greene.
Despite being a Democrat in a deeply red state,Edwards narrowly won reelection despite being locked in a heated reelection campaign. His brother, Daniel, is the sheriff of his native Tangipahoa Parish.
The governor kept mum about the arrest.
He was Tortured and the Videos of Black Man's encounter with Louisiana police caused outrage.
The Associated Press obtained video of the deadly arrest of a black man.
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