Former State Police Col. Kevin Reeves charged with contempt in Ronald Greene investigation

Lafayette Daily Advertiser

A special Louisiana House committee investigating the 2019 death of Ronald Greene during a violent arrest charged the former head of the agency with contempt Wednesday for refusing to share entries from his personal journal.

The House panel, led by Chairman Tanner Magee, also imposed a $5,000 civil fine on former State Police Col. Kevin Reeves, who led the state's premier police agency when Greene was brutally beaten and died following a high-speed chase that ended in Union Parish.

Meanwhile, 3rd District Attorney John Belton told USA Today Tuesday he is "very close" to empaneling a special grand jury in Union Parish in which he will present evidence seeking indictments relating to the Greene beating.

Belton, who met with Greene's family Monday, said U.S. attorney's office officials told him this week they will turn over their evidence file to him within days. A federal investigation has been ongoing, but so far yielded no indictments.

In this Thursday, May 27, 2021, file photo, demonstrators stand in front of the governor's mansion after a march from the state Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., protesting the death of Ronald Greene, who died in the custody of Louisiana State Police in 2019.

Three years after Greene's violent death on May 10, 2019, there have been no arrests in the case.

Read this:State Police second in command placed on leave in connection with Ronald Greene investigation

Magee said Reeves' attorney Lewis Unglesby turned over partial entries subpoenaed by the committee, but not all.

"We've yet to receive all of the documents we've requested," said Magee, a Republican from Houma.

The committee is investigating both Greene's death and the possible ensuing coverup of the circumstances. Greene's family was first told his death was a result of the crash, which was a lie.

Reeves previously testified before the committee that he was not a party to any coverup and that he didn't believe others within the agency concocted a coverup.

Other high-ranking officers within State Police have since said they believe there was a coverup, while Lt. Scott Brown testified he was asked to conceal evidence in the case and expressed that to Reeves.

Former State Police Superintendent Kevin Reeves, forefront, testifies before a special House committee investigating the 2019 death of Ronald Greene on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

Reeves’ attorney did provide 11 hand-written pages of his three journals to the committee, but Magee said Unglesby said no other entries are related to the Greene case.

USA Today Network is seeking comment from Unglesby.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.