Family of pot grower killed by game commission bulldozer wins $475,000 settlement from Pennsylvania
READING Pennsylvania will pay $475,000 to the estate of a man who died under a bulldozer that state police used to chase him for growing a handful of marijuana plants, according to a settlement revealed in court Thursday.
Gregory Longenecker, a 51-year-old short-order cook and Grateful Dead fan, had fled into thick brush after being caught growing 10 marijuana plants on public land near Reading. His body was found under the treads of a Pennsylvania Game Commission bulldozer that state police commandeered in pursuit.
The lawsuit by Longeneckers family contended that state police and the game commission took crazy and lethal action against an unarmed man who posed no threat, then destroyed or withheld evidence to cover it up.
The plaintiffs attorney, Jordan Strokovsky, said outside court Thursday that Longeneckers family is pleased with the settlement but wants sweeping reforms to prevent such an excessive show of force and tragedy like this in the future.
Read more: https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-killed-by-bulldozer-20210311-t7u4prk27fdyniit2pkdrkg4ra-story.html
(Allentown Morning Call)