Did they not watch the video? Encinia's case was dropped in exchange for a promise he would never again work in law enforcement. Blands death drew outrage from people concerned with police violence against Black Americans. Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10 by State Trooper Brian Encinia. Lawyers for Blands family have argued that Encinia did not have grounds for the arrest and escalated the confrontation. And Kelleys testimony that she had a head wound at the scene might have influenced the grand jury process that ultimately only rung Encinia up on perjury charges. This is a short clip of police video that shows Sandra Bland's arrest in Texas on July 10, three days before she died in a county jail. "That did not happen in this situation. Encinia had been accused of failing to act courteously during his July traffic stop of Bland, prolonging her detention, violating general orders and perjury. Numerous NYPD officers told local public radio reporters in 2012 that they had been frozen out and labeled as snitches by colleagues after reporting corrupt activity to Internal Affairs. + Here are the best, CMT Music Awards ticket presale starts Wednesday. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The charge the trooper now faces is a Class A misdemeanor. Sandra Bland's own video of traffic stop surfaces, Cellphone video recorded by Sandra Bland, a black woman found dead in a Texas jail following a 2015 traffic stop, shows for the first time her perspective as a white state trooper points his stun gun at her while ordering her out of her car. That's not justice for me," Reed-Veal said. South Carolina officer Michael Slager was charged with murdering Walter Scottbut only after cell phone video from a bystander proved that cops had been lying about Scotts death for days. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Five Democratic 2020 candidates said video of the 2015 arrest days before the woman was found dead in a cell warrants a new look at the case. Aside from the violated regulations, there is considerable division in the Texas legal community about the legality of Encinia's actions. A dozen officers in New York City sued the NYPD last year alleging that they have faced retaliation from supervisors for trying to expose the continued use of quotas in the city despite department officials claims to have reformed those rules. Bland is heard on the video crying and in distress as she repeatedly tells officers that they were hurting her and that she couldn't hear after being slammed into the ground. As of recent reports, he is . Maybe she fell when she was in handcuffs. President Trump has largely defended law enforcement officers since launching his campaign. For now, he remains employed by the . after she refuses to get out of her car. Although this issue has not dominated the news in recent weeks, it remains a major problem. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. A Texas grand jury has opted to indict Brian Encinia, the Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland three days before her July death, and charge him with perjury. Encinia's future seems up in the air, and as developments in the case proceed over the next few years, it's possible that he could still face criminal charges. When asked what crime he believed Bland was committing, or about to commit, Encinia responded: I had a feeling that anything couldve been either retrieved or hidden within her area of control. This case should be reopened and justice should finally be served., Nina Turner, co-chair of the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), called the video gut-wrenching and unacceptable.. There is an established pattern of police backing up a colleagues lie for as long as possible, then having their cover-up exposed by video or outside investigations. In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: "Get out of the car! . The four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's death were fired and are awaiting trial. US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? Blands mother Geneva Reed-Veal has become an outspoken advocate for police reform. "I'm angry, absolutely. How many more videos do we have to see before law enforcement does something. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Cellphone video recorded by Sandra Bland, a black woman found dead in a Texas jail following a confrontational 2015 traffic stop, shows for the first time her perspective as a . USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users who shared the postsfor comment. Pending the outcome of the Texas Ranger and FBI investigation into this incident, the employee involved has been assigned administrative duties. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, TinEye Reverse Image Search, accessed June 18. needs room in shelter for parvo treatment, Nurses rally at TX Capitol, ask lawmakers for help, Doctors could get TX license in 10 days or fewer, I was raped, I am OK graffiti sparks controversy, COVID-19 tracker: Cases in the KXAN viewing area, Data tracker: COVID cases, vaccine rates across Texas, Thursdays cold front brings severe risk then strong, Austin musician Ben Kweller announces death of son, The story of 12 students who integrated ATX schools, How to get to Q2 Stadium for 2023 Austin FC season, PHOTOS: Some of Austins most modern homes, Cities offer free tree, brush disposals post-storm, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And he was met with applause last month while speaking at a convention of the National Action Network, founded by the Rev. The second interview was done on Feb. 22, In a newly released DPS use of force report, Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Texas House unveils economy, workforce priorities. After Bland asks why Encinia would threaten to drag me out of my own car, he pulls out his Taser. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. This recording raises new questions about Encinias account and the investigation that followed. Police say Sandra Bland killed herself in jail. Video of the traffic stop and Bland's death -- which the county coroner ultimately ruled suicide -- prompted investigations by the Texas Rangers and the FBI. For now, he remains employed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The images aired Monday night marked the first time that most people had seen the traffic encounter as Ms. He got recognition from people after he arrested Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was arrestedin July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Texasstate trooper Brian Enciniaduringa traffic stop. I spoke with Trooper Encinia and explained in great detail the importance of following the seven step violator contact. A new Sandra Bland recording is released, and 2020 Democratic candidates weigh in on police brutality, The latest: Twitter suspends Sen. Lees personal account, The latest: Garland puts in plug for renewing intelligence-gathering tool, Noted: Rep. Pascrell criticizes decision to lay off N.J. congressional reporter, Nikki Haleys bogus claims about foreign aid dollars, Showdown before the raid: FBI agents and prosecutors argued over Trump, Underrecognized: Extremist murders are usually from right-wing actors. Trayvon Martin. On July 10, 2015,Blandwas booked into the Waller Countyjail after being charged with assaulting Encinia,who had stopped Bland for failing to signal a turn while driving. Still,some people felt the details of the case weretoo strange to be true. Academy Award-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry talks about being nominated for an oscar award. It also requires an independent investigation into jail deaths. Because all I could think about was the knee in my sister's back from Officer Encinia," said Needham. The video sparked renewed conversation about police misconduct against black Americans. We are all in this together. In June 2017, Encinia agreed to a plea deal that dropped his charge; in exchange, he had to agree not to appeal his firing, surrender his police license and never reapply. Brian Encinia. And I previously wrote how South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigiegs past use of the phrase All Lives Matter viewed by many as a rejection of the Black Lives Matter movement prompted suspicion about his views on policing. Bland family members say they were disappointed most of the police reform portions of the bill were eliminated in the version that passed. There have been 179 this year, according to Mappingpoliceviolence.org. I still did have a concern for the area of her control that I didnt know what was there, but I do agree that things couldve been done differently, said Encinia, when asked if he could have de-escalated the situation by telling Bland she was only being given a warning for the traffic violation. The footage shows Bland walking back and forth in the jail's entryway. Three days later, Bland was found dead in jail, of an apparent suicide. The reporter who had exposed the videos existence was later barred from a press conference with city leaders about the killing. Encinia wrote in his affidavit that he had Bland exit the vehicle and handcuffed her after she became combative, and that she swung her elbows at him and kicked him in his right shin. Encinia had claimed in an affidavit that Bland was combative and uncooperative, which grand jurors determined to be untrue. I was checking the condition of the vehicle, such as the make, the model, had a license plate, any other conditions.. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Encinia's future seems up in the air, and as developments in the case proceed over the next few years, it's possible that he could still face criminal charges. I do believe however that Trooper Encinias adrenaline level was very high at that time and that he was very emotional after just getting attacked by the violator. Popular Networth. I think he is afraid of what happened. The Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, the motorist who days later was found hanged in a jail cell, was formally fired on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 5:15 PM Jul 23, 2020 CDT, Here is a list of events leading to the Sandra Bland Act, which became a state law in 2017. The situation had already gotten out of hand by the time the violator found out what she was receiving. Needham said grassroots movements across the country pushing for police reform give her hope, but she continues to have lay-it-on-the-line conversations with her two sons about interacting with officers. My primary concern was with that purse, with her console, as far as being any kinds of weapons or drugs or, its unknown to me. The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. This decision does not mean that Encinia will not face criminal charges. All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. The Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. Here's why that's hard to believe. He might be in the clear currently, but where is Brian Encinia now? The decision to fire Brian Encinia, the Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, was upheld by the Texas Department of Public Safety, a news release says. On July 10, 2015, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia pulls over a 28-year-old Black woman, Sandra Bland, for failing to signal a lane change. the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. But Encinia said he didnt know what he was arresting Bland for but would come up with something, Kelley says. Uncredited/AP. Kelley got to the scene too late to see exactly what happened between Encinia and Bland during the key moments off a dash-cam video where the two are out of frame and Bland says hes knocked her head against the pavement. Get out of the car! he shouts while pointing it at her chest. For many Black Americans, these deaths and others have caused lasting trauma, Road trip for suburban woman ends in jailhouse death, BuzzFeed Helped Spread Far-Fetched Conspiracy Theories About Sandra Blands Death, Sandra Bland: Anonymous release video claiming to 'expose Texas police for releasing dead mugshot', Sandra Bland Death: Texas to Look Into Alleged Edits of Dashcam Video, #JusticeForSandy: Sandy Bland Death in Texas Jail Sparks Questions, Sandra Bland death triggers #IfIDieInPoliceCustody trend, Sandra Bland's family settles wrongful death case for $1.9M, Trooper Who Arrested Sandra Band Formally Fired, Newly released Sandra Bland video shows her alive at Texas jail before death, Social media speculates whether Bland is dead in mugshot. 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