EmbedWatch Raw Police Dashcam Video of Sandra Bland's Arrest1:18:10
Texas lawmakers who reviewed dashcam footage of the arrest of Sandra Bland confirmed Tuesday that she was "threatened" with a Taser during a traffic stop — and believe that she should never have been arrested.
"Once you see what occurred, you will probably agree with me that she shouldn't have been taken into custody," state Sen. Royce West said at a news conference held before the dashcam video was made public.
Bland, a 28-year-old black woman from suburban Chicago, was found hanged from an apparent suicide in her Waller County jail cell three days after her July 10 arrest, authorities said. Her family has asked for an independent autopsy after doubting that Bland would have committed suicide.
The Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday released a 52-minute dashcam video showing the heated traffic stop that ended in Bland's arrest. The department said it is committed to a thorough and impartial investigation.
"DPS has been working closely with the family of Ms. Bland during this investigation, and the department extends our sincere condolences for their tragic loss," DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement, adding that the department has cooperated fully with the FBI and the Texas Rangers.
Late Tuesday, the department was looking into questions about whether the video had been edited before its release.
At several points in the video of Bland's arrest, posted Tuesday to the department's YouTube channel, video of a person walking or a car driving by are cut or repeat themselves as the audio continues uninterrupted.
Security Video Outside Sandra Bland's Texas Jail Cell Released2:05
The video shows state trooper Brian Encinia stopping Bland in her silver Hyundai Azera after he says she failed to signal a lane change.
"You OK?" Encinia asks Bland.
"I'm waiting on you, this is your job," Bland responds. "I'm waiting on you."
"You seem very irritated," Encinia adds.Bland acknowledges that she's annoyed because he was tailing her, then pulled her over. Encinia then asked Bland to put out her cigarette. When she refuses, he tells her to step out of the car. "I don't want to step out of my car," Bland says, adding, "I refuse to talk to you other than to identify myself."
"I am going to yank you out of here," Encinia says, moving his body inside her open door.
The situation escalates, and the trooper tells her she's under arrest. "Get out of the car!" he commands. Bland asks why she's being arrested, and then Encinia draws his Taser.
"Get out of the car! I will light you up," he continues, prompting her to exit the vehicle.
Encinia then moves to arrest Bland on the sidewalk, where she is heard telling him that he is hurting her wrists after she is forced on the ground. The dashcam doesn't capture the actual arrest.
As Bland is heard crying, another officer arrives on the scene. "You are yanking around," Encinia says to Bland. "When you pull away from me, you're resisting arrest."
The trooper said in the arrest affidavit that Bland was "swinging her elbows at me and then kicked my right leg in the shin. I had a pain in my right leg and suffered small cuts on my right hand." Encinia, who claimed Bland was "combative and uncooperative," arrested her on a charge of assaulting a public servant.
Dashcam video released Tuesday shows the traffic stop that ended in Sandra Bland's arrest. She died in an apparent suicide in jail three days later. Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety has placed Encinia on administrative duties after officials found "violations of procedures regarding traffic stops and the department's courtesy policy."
Bland had gotten a $5,000 bond, and was attempting to collect the money from her family to get out of jail before she was found dead on July 13. While an autopsy says Bland died of apparent "self-inflicted asphyxiation," local authorities said they are looking into her death as if it were a homicide — which is a routine procedure, officials said Tuesday.
The FBI and the Department of Justice have also been asked to help investigate, and lawmakers promised an "ethnically diverse" grand jury to review the case.
"There's a tragedy that happend here," Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at the news conference. "Regardless of who's at fault at the end, a young lady lost her life. That's always a tragedy."
Not in my book. Right there is where the cop overstepped his bounds.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 at 6:16PM
Steve Williams
License and registration please is all there should have been to it.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 at 6:17PM
Steve Williams
So why was she still in jail three days later?
Wednesday, July 22nd 2015 at 6:19PM
Steve Williams
@Steve,
I know that many if these Small Southern courts do things differently although they are apart of America. From the email I got from Color of Change asking for contributions to help hire a Private Investigator, The young lady probably didn't have a private attorney being that she was new to the area and also because she needed to come up with bond money. Isn't that what BailsBondmen are for? The biggest issue with these type of things is that there is lack of funds and resources to advocate for us which makes minorities prime targets.
I have made some changes to this blog. I have found a full raw 1: 18:11 version of the arrest of Sandra Bland for your review.
I think that's when racial superiority and the ugliness of systemic racism took place. That cops feelings got in the way of his professionalism.
I also think that this dash video have been doctored purposely not to show the wide angle view of what was caught on video. As you have noticed that the time clock and the date is missing.
Yes, his ego got in the way, but in hindsight one has to do as the Romans do when in Rome. You have to know that I'm not blaming Ms. Bland in no way, but Southern towns have their own set culture. It's customary as well as polite to say yes sir / madam. It's considered rude not to be polite and respectful especially of authority figures and if one is from the North regardless that person is viewed as a Yank. One can get a lot more with a spoon of honey than with vinegar. Anytime I go back South to visit, I always observe the customs. It's just common sense.
See you have the gift of wisdom and you know how to talk to the white man. I can't help this feeling that this patrol officer was looking for any reason to elevate and escalate this simple traffic stop from a simple warning to teaching that black girl a lesson for not doing what he asked.
This is what looks like white supremacy and a cover up to me.
Now watch this, they will pull all of the rules of the book to make Sister Sandra Bland who is the victim in this case, a criminal by any means necessary.
Sister Fa, Watch for these developments from the Police Chief, right down to the arresting officer.
..."See you have the gift of wisdom and you know how to talk to the white man."...
Even Jesus saw no harm in observing customs. Besides, Brother Craig Amos when he used to be on this site felt that one of the bigger issues we have as a ppl is lack of good communication skills. Communication (both nonverbal and verbal) are important when dealing with White people. We are socially awkward at times. The police noticed hostility in Ms. Blands body language for which he asked if she was alright and she replied something to the effect... I'm waiting on you... the whole situation started wrong but it went even farther left after the police picked up on her body language.
In a personal situation with my own relative who is in some serious 'legal dudu' his lawyer told the private investigator to talk with an older female relative as she has more crucial info about his case than the accused. The P.I. Was clarifying with me so as not to spin his wheels. I said I think it's a matter of my older relative being able to articulate the info better that she gets from the accused in a way that helps the ongoing investigation.
I spoke to this accused relative once that he should look at ppl when they are speaking to him as well as sit up and square his shoulders rather thank look down and hunched over as if he's uninterested because he comes off as rude and disrespectful. It's a huge problem with us and communication (social ) skills.
Had Ms. Bland said, Officer I'm in a hurry to get to my first day of work and not be late... could this have made a difference? Perhaps she would have still gotten a ticket but would have arrived to work alive.
I'm not sure, but I am trying to emphasize that we are lacking in social skills and it is my belief that when you know how to talk to ppl, it makes a huge difference in outcomes.
Besides this, I have been pleading with these same set of relatives since last year about taking my little 4 old relative to story time in the library in order that she interact with and learn some better social cues before starting Pre-K. It's sad.
Social skills are apart of navigating and interacting for success. Our African counterparts that come here are successful and speak that good Queen's English and don't have the inhibitions about White ppl like we do although they were colonized by Europeans.
The name of that Texas State Trooper is Brian Encinia, who stopped Sister Sandra Bland on July 10, hypothetically for not signaling a lane change when she notice him coming up behind her at a rapid rate of speed. After Trooper Encinia decided to issue only a warning, but before Bland knew she was free to leave, he asked her why she was upset. Then he ordered her to extinguish her cigarette. Bland refused. Trooper Encinia then ordered her to step out of the car. When she refused that, Encinia told her she was under arrest, saying, "I am giving you a lawful order" and pulling a weapon that looks to be a Taser.
In an instant, this escalated from a mere warning to the Trooper shouting, "Get out of the car!" and threatening to "...light you up! Get out! Now!"
Like the vast majority of citizens, Sandra Bland appeared to be just unaware of the rule; as evidenced by her audible objection to the idea that you could be ordered out of your car after failing to signal a turn. Bland says, "Wow, really, for a failure to signal? You're doing all of this for a failure to signal?" The officer certainly was aware that he had this power.
Surely he had been trained to know the moment she refused his "exit order," she unwittingly committed a technical violation that would ultimately form the basis of an arrest. But like most citizens, Bland was shocked at the notion that we can be ordered from our cars during a routine stop and also by not putting out her cigarette and not for the traffic stop. It just feels wrong, doesn't it?
More will come out later. Mark my words, they will try their best to make Sister Bland a criminal.
..."After Trooper Encinia decided to issue only a warning, but before Bland knew she was free to leave, he asked her why she was upset.... "Bland says, "Wow, really, for a failure to signal? You're doing all of this for a failure to signal?" The officer certainly was aware that he had this power."...
When I was went to a police department to get my fingers printed to send to the F.B.I. for criminal background check, I was printed by a tall, Blond haired Adonis with blue eyes. He was a trooper in a little off shoot office on the side of the court house all by his lonesome. As I often am, I'm very proactive, articulate, and confident in myself and don't really pay attention to my skin color when I'm speaking.
So as it happens, I suppose this trooper didn't appreciate that about me and I noticed his body language change and his voice became more commanding and I immediately became aware that I was Black, female, and aware of the stereotype of Black women in this shoot office alone with this BIG State trooper. I became more passive and made sure to say thank you, sir and yes sir, no sir, etc,... You get what I mean?
As he printed my fingers, he wasn't gentle but mashed my fingers in the ink hurriedly and pressed fingers hard against the finger print card as if he was anger. After he was done finger printing me, he sprayed my hands with some type of green de-inker solution and commanded me to go wash my hands in the little spooky bathroom> I hurriedly said you and did as I was told EXPEDICIOUSLY and got the heck out of there... never to return!
I understand that he just wanted to put you in your place.
As I look around the web, the stories of criminalizing Sister Sandra Bland has already began. in the court of public opinion, the word is out that Ms. Bland had marijuana in her blood. I want to confirm this as the day goes on because you know how this court of public opinion is.
On the News they are reporting that the toxicology report is now somehow faulty that the states officials are saying.
Jen this would be the third autopsy. The family had one done after they brought her home. But when the news broke last night the indication was the family wouldn't be sending her back to Texas. The funeral is set for Saturday I think.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 1:21PM
Steve Williams
Brother Deacon,
It was the cigarette business that changed the course of things. She insisted she had the right to smoke in her car and that's when he said, well now get out of the car.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 1:25PM
Steve Williams
@Jen.... See that's where I'm different ... I'm bubbly... Articulate... I saunter into a room (I have the Marilyn Complex but I have an Angela Davis Mentality... Let's handle business and keep it moving... And yes if he/she wanna act pasnippetiy ... Oh ... "Play at your own risk" .... I used to be easily intimidated... Naw .. not today...
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 1:26PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
That's a bunch of crap... Apparently he was profiling her (following her long enough to run her tag) deemed her suspicious decides to pull her over - I'd be very argumentative!! But all he needed to get from me was my license and registration information... He give me my ticket and we move it along.. I'd comply with some of his requests ... But naw... He ain't taking me to jail... I need witnesses there.. to see him kill me dead!!
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 1:42PM
Cynthia Merrill Artis
In the conversation with his sergeant he doesn't mention the cigarette. He says he told her to get out of the car because he didn't want to be standing in the street arguing with her.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 2:47PM
Steve Williams
Why should he stand there an argue? If he was going to citation her that should have been it. I've gotten in contentious arguments with police officers ... Of course I worked for a Transportation Company, so I M familiar with Federal Regulations... Yet still.. no need for attitude... Hello Officer ... Yes, I would like to know why am I being Stopped.. Okay, here's my ... Yes Where do I sign .... Thank you... Yes to too enjoy your day! Nope... I can't put my cigarette out...But I will place it in my ash tray. Pardon me.. you ask have I been drinking and you want me to get out of my car? Well officer do you see any open containers? And you stopped me for a blown tail light? Stay tuned.. because I am going to be on an episode on the television series: SNAPPED
Thanks for the full video, it sheds a lot of light on this case. Something was seriously bothering her. I don't think the cop was being confrontational when he asked her twice was she alright. His one mistake as I see it was how he handled the cigarette. I think maybe she did commit suicide but that doesn't excuse them. They should have had her on a suicide watch.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 3:15PM
Steve Williams
Cynthia, I've argued plenty with cops. The last time was when I got stopped for a seat belt violation. We'd had a barbeque at my son's so naturally I had a couple beers. He lived 3 blocks from us through a quiet residential zone so I didn't bother with the seat belt. For better than an hour I refused to use their little portable breathalyzer. Two reasons. I don't trust the things but even more was my neighbors and my grandkids were all watching. My son couldn't believe the cops let it go, and even I was expecting they'd take me in for refusing. My philosophy with the authorities is they have to work for their pay. However, when I started to light up during this grilling and they told me not to, I took the practical course and acquiesced.
When the officer returned to the car he could tell by her expression that she didn't have an obedient attitude, so he provoked her more and moved the situation beyond the camera"s view. Since there has been so many incidents happening lately, people need to be observant about traffic stops that aren't within the camera's view point. She kept saying that she swear before God that she was going to sue, when she should have said she was going to haunt them if they mistreat her.(lol)
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 4:32PM
Helen Lofton
There's also a voicemail she left the first day she was in jail that her bond had been set at $5000.
Thursday, July 23rd 2015 at 8:46PM
Steve Williams
When I watched this full Breaking News of Sandra Bland Autopsy Revealed, they spent a lot of time talking about marijuana being smoked in jail and they can't rule this out.
@ Steve, ..."I think maybe she did commit suicide but that doesn't excuse them. They should have had her on a suicide watch."...
I think she did. Having also had a medical history of PTSD (an anxiety disorder), it's not uncommon to have Depression accompany it ( dual diagnosis ). Then the question about her ever thought about suicide, she gave an affirmative response. That's a red flag. Although she may not have been suicidal initially, I think she became depressed due to being arrested, the embarrassment of having to ask for funds to get out of jail, and missing work d/t being in jail is enough to bring on a lot of anxiety as well as having self defeating thoughts. Its so sad the call the day of her arrest sounds like she was feeling sad as well as in disbelief about her situation.
Had she not been in a cell by herself ( a form of solitary confinement), she would have done better because she would gave gad another woman to talk to or if the jail personnel had rounded on her each hour especially since she answered yes to suicide.... Things would be different. I wonder if her family knew about her having contemplated suicide? The picture of her mugshot also looks like she had been crying, sadly.
..."@Jen.... See that's where I'm different ... I'm bubbly... Articulate... I saunter into a room (I have the Marilyn Complex but I have an Angela Davis Mentality...
I hear you, but I'm not arguing with police. I've been to the pokey while in college and I'm not trying to go back! Lol
It's on the full video when the officer is talking on the phone to the sergeant, after the arrest. He said it was for assault because she kicked him when he took her over to the sidewalk. As far as marijuana, it's highly unlikely she smoked it in jail. She smoked it before she was arrested. More about this will come out. But it has nothing to do with what happened to her, it's a red herring. The sad thing is she was only going to get a warning, if she'd only put out her cigarette she'd have been on her way.
Friday, July 24th 2015 at 7:56AM
Steve Williams
Jen, she told the cop she had epilepsy. Maybe she had anti-siezure medication that they weren't giving her in jail?
Friday, July 24th 2015 at 8:03AM
Steve Williams
And the isolation was not just being in a cell by herself but being hundreds of miles from her family. Add to that they may have intentionally made it difficult for her to talk to them by phone. So far there seems to be only that one message she left after her bond was set.
Friday, July 24th 2015 at 8:11AM
Steve Williams
@ Steve,
..."Jen, she told the cop she had epilepsy. Maybe she had anti-siezure medication that they weren't giving her in jail?"...
Ppl smoke pop to help them with seizures so I'm not sure if she was using it for seizures and if she was she had a prescription for its use. If not, then that's going to be a sore spot for the Texas police attorney to go after her character.
See below...
Marijuana
Studies in animals have suggested that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and cannabidiol, another substance in marijuana, can help seizures as well as provoke them. However, not enough is known about which ingredients and how much of them can help or harm people with seizures. Marijuana also has bothersome side effects, and stopping marijuana suddenly after using it recreationally could increase the risk for seizures.
•We aren’t sure just why stress may trigger a seizure. •While there is no definite evidence that reducing stress help seizures, a recent study showed that nearly 9 in 10 people who actively managed their stress believed it reduced their risk of seizures. •Try to avoid stressful situations if it makes sense to do so, and if you can avoid it.
How often does stress trigger seizures?
It’s hard to know exactly how often stress triggers seizures, since stress means something different to everyone. It’s also hard to judge how much of an effect stress has on a person.
Stress comes in different forms and has a different meaning for everyone. It can come from a major life event or from more everyday activities that can potentially put us in a bad mood. Some studies have found that major life stressors, either good or bad, could affect seizures. Others have found that a build up of ‘daily hassles’ or stress seems to be more important. Since people are very different, it’s likely that stress can affect people in different ways at different times of their life.
@ Deac, From the link about the autopsy.., the case is being treated as a homicide until proven otherwise... also it looks like the D.A. is very level headed from his remarks that he was disturbed with Encinia's action with Ms. Bland and the violation of Sandra Bland's civil rights and also Encinia not following some internal policies. Still just because there was marijuana in her system doesn't mean she is a pot head ...
Did you guys see her mug shot? There was someone that said they feel that the mugshot is actually a picture of her after she died. I'll find that and post the link. Do they typically do a mugshot before or after giving jail clothes? Her mugshot was in orange jail clothes.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Illinois for more than 365 days, but the number of patients that have actually been able to get relief from the drug remains a big fat zero. While 600 local patients have already been approved for a medical marijuana card, there's no place to actually buy the stuff. And after the state recently blew its self-imposed deadline to award business licenses to medical marijuana growers and dispensaries by the end of 2014, not a single business can even plant pot seeds. “Illinois is the worst at anything having to do [with] medicine -- or alternative [treatment],” Claire Mooney, a 39-year-old acupuncturist in Chicago, told The Huffington Post. Mooney applied in November for a medical marijuana card, hoping to ease muscle rigidity, pain and other symptoms caused by her multiple sclerosis. Though she's frustrated by the state's timing, she said she's also not surprised by it. “It goes on the timeline I thought it would be on, given the bureaucracy of Illinois.” Despite the growing frustration among would-be medical marijuana patients like Mooney, it might not be time to lose heart entirely -- so says Ali Nagib, the assistant director for the Illinois arm of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, a nonprofit advocacy group. “Other than the fact that for many patients, any delay is too long, it’s not an unexpected delay for people who have been following it,” Nagib said. “If you go back and listen to floor debates in 2013, they were anticipating -- even at that time -- a year of rulemaking. In that sense, it’s not unexpected [the licensing has] taken that long." But with a gubernatorial administration hand-off less than a week away, continued delays to the business licensing could see new variables emerge in an already complex landscape. Outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn, considered a medical marijuana advocate, on Sunday told the Chicago Sun-Times of the state's licensing delay: "It is a complicated law and we're working on it as best we can. There's a lot of research to be done, and it has to be done right." In less than a week, Quinn's term ends, and the licensing falls under the purview of Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner, who criticized the law in the past. “We don’t expect any major changes to the rules under [Rauner]," Nagib noted. "We simply don’t know how he’s going to implement this law. There are a lot of ways he could obstruct it if he chooses, and there are a lot of ways he could expedite it, too.” Neither Quinn nor Rauner's office immediately replied when reached for comment. Regardless of which administration issues the business licenses, Nagib said Illinois' medical marijuana patients are effectively "all dressed up, with no place to go." Katelyn Harper, a 23-year-old Chicagoan who suffers from Crohn’s disease, told HuffPost she's not surprised by the long wait for medical marijuana access but remains hopeful that policy makers will avoid unnecessary delays. “We are real people who have real lives, real jobs, friends, family," Harper said of her fellow patients who suffer from chronic illness. "[Medical marijuana] will not just benefit patients, it’ll benefit all of those people, too." On the spectrum of states handling weed legislation, those like California and Colorado -- which legalized medical marijuana but have fewer regulations on the substance than Illinois does -- moved fastest from legalization to actual access, according to Nagib. At the other end of the spectrum is Massachusetts, still waiting on access to medical marijuana despite voters overwhelmingly approving it on a ballot measure more than two years ago. "One criticism was that [Illinois' law] doesn’t allow for home cultivation," Nagib said. "If that provision had been in this bill, patients could have access already.” Mooney said the dearth of licensed marijuana businesses in Illinois means patients are being denied not only access to the drug, but guidance as to which strains will best help certain conditions. “For my multiple sclerosis, I’ve found [specific types of marijuana] very helpful,” Mooney said, noting that without licensed dispensaries, finding and using the best strain is a challenge. “I just have to scour the streets for my Maui Waui," she added, referring to the name of a strain of marijuana. Nagib said most advocates and lawmakers are anticipating that patients will have medical marijuana access sometime between late spring and early fall of this year. “I think this next week is going to be very telling," he said. "We’ll see if things move or not. If we get to 2015 and there’s still no patient access, I’d consider that to be a significant failure.”
..."Medical marijuana has been legal in Illinois for more than 365 days, but the number of patients that have actually been able to get relief from the drug remains a big fat zero,...“ Illinois is the worst at anything having to do [with] medicine -- or alternative [treatment],”....
That sucks but in a way its also good that she's from a State that medical marijuana is legal. From listening to the autopsy report, they also found healing / old ligature marks on her one or both wrists consistent with 'cutting'. So it questions whether she had in the recent past attempted suicide or perhaps its a sign that she's had some crisis that resulted in 'cutting'.
Moreover, if they are going after her death as suicide secondary from use of marijuana exacerbated her mood in a downward spiral then the family should making a lawsuit with the focus of the Police Depart's lack of use of possible suicide protocol and failing to get her antiepileptic meds for 3 days. In the commentary after the autopsy results, the guy speaks on the suicide precautions and that this Texas Police have already removed the plastic bags from all the cells. Hmmmm
To me that is a big issue in many Police Departs incarcerating ppl in crisis rather than getting them mental health services... Its a RED FLAG. There is minimal if any existence of people being able to get these services whether in Jail or Outside of Jail. The State/ Police Depart should be held liable and the police need to be trained on how to recognize ppl in crisis. I think that's the best legal strategy because judging from the past events with ppl that die in police custody, its hard to get convictions.
Jen, I hope the family does focus on the negligence of the jail, rather than the arresting officer's conduct.
Friday, July 24th 2015 at 12:44PM
Steve Williams
See, this is what I am talking about. In this autopsy, never did tell the public how Sister Bland took a small garbage bag to hang herself in the first place. Her sure weight alone would have snap That small garbage bag into.
This autopsy raises more questions than it answers. Marijuana is not the issue here it is the method in which she die is the question.
Has the family released the results of their autopsy? Of course they don't have the bag though.
Friday, July 24th 2015 at 1:18PM
Steve Williams
Keppra (levetiracetam) is an anti-epileptic drug, also called an anticonvulsant.
Keppra is used to treat partial onset seizures in adults and children who are at least 1 month old.
Keppra is also used to treat tonic-clonic seizures in adults and children who are at least 6 years old, and myoclonic seizures in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.
...
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Keppra. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
@ Steve, ..."Has the family released the results of their autopsy? Of course they don't have the bag though."...
Actually, they do have the bag... And it's the kind of garbage bags we use in hospitals that are really strong and able to carry a good amount of weight. I will find that link. Also, I seriously doubt that the autopsy the family has done will find any more than the first.
..."And also he never used any antagonizing tone of voice, "WHAT'S WRONG!!!"...
That may be true, but in fairness to the policemen he was issuing warrants to both ppl... But it's unfortunate that ego got in the way of both he and Bland.
But Two wrongs, don't make a right. Policemen are ppl at the end of the day. They have emotions and are human being, too. Each time they suit up and go out...they worry about stuff too. I'm not condoning what he did, but we have to be mindful that these ppl have dangerous, stressful jobs. It's not easy for them either. Bland set him off. It's unfortunate. I'd try never to set off anyone with a gun, but she also being human was stressed as well.
The cop actually put himself at risk when he reached inside to grab her. That went against his training. He should have instead called for backup at that point.
Saturday, July 25th 2015 at 11:43PM
Steve Williams
That officer wanted to teach that Black Gal a lesson.
He definitely shouldn't have reached in Bland's vehicle! That's what ego and emotions will do; cause ppl to act in ways that they wouldn't in ordinary circumstances.
@ Deac,
That is probably also true. He did want to teach Bland a lesson and at the end of the day we are at another loss that a cop will not be convicted for.
As you can see in this video this officer just gave a young white girl a pass for driving without auto insurance and speeding. You can clearly see that this cop could have went straight ahead and did indeed have other places he could have gone.
Now as soon as he got into his car, he looked in the face of Sandra Bland and made that u turn to pull Sister Bland over, after he lost visual contact to make that U turn with her, speeded upon her rear bumper then pulled the charge of not signaling a lane change after he turn on his mars lights while he was on her bumper.
All this happened within a two minutes of a previous traffic stop. Now as far as that cop ordering Sandra to put out her cigarette and when she did not, at that time that cop was not in danger of his life or had any reason to believe that Sister Bland was of any danger to others.
This was Sandra's crime DWB Driving While Black and that cop wanted to teach this mouthy young Black girl from the north some southern hospitality, that's all.
The Texas Highway Patrol Division is responsible for general police traffic supervision, traffic, and criminal law enforcement on the rural highways of Texas.
I see that you have not refuted any of my observations and you are telling me that The Texas Highway Patrol Division is responsible for general police traffic supervision, traffic, and criminal law enforcement on the rural highways of Texas, That teaching a young mouthy Black woman from the north how it is done down there in the south.
Get out of your car or I will light you up...
How you are telling me that this professional southern Texas Highway Patrol officer could not have handle this case any better?
Her insisting on her right to smoking a cigarette led to the order to step out of the car. Putting out the cigarette was a request and should have been followed, but stepping out of the car was an order. A police officer is an unknown, and like any adversary there is a risk to antagonizing one. But to disobey an order, lawful or not, can be catastrophic.
Now this is something that a trained police office knows, if it was his plan just to give Sister Sandra Bland a warming ticket, why would he escalate this simple traffic stop to another level?
What would be clear danger Brother Deacon? When someone you have pulled over pulls out a gun and shoots you dead, as happened to that police officer in Hayward that is referenced in the other video you posted? Sandra Bland was just as much an unknown to him as he was to her. It could have been a fatal mistake for him to reach in to her car like that. It turned out to be a mistake for her to challenge him. What exactly the lesson to be be learned from this? That there are less than perfect cops out there but we'll just go ahead and act like they're all exemplary human beings and we have nothing to fear from them?
Brother Steve, I see that you are running to add more confetti to this conversation by bringing in another issue that has nothing to do with the Sandra Bland case.
I asked you a question which you have not answered yet. "If it was his plan just to give Sister Sandra Bland a warning ticket, why would he escalate this simple traffic stop to another level?
Lots of people don't like cigarettes Brother Deacon and most smokers, myself included, respect that. That officer was performing his duty, why should he have been forced to breathe second hand smoke while she was arguing with him?
Brother Deacon, in this society it's all too common for people to shift the blame to someone else. Sandra Bland was careless of her own life and now she's a martyr.
Your Question: why should he have been forced to breathe second hand smoke while she was arguing with him?
You got to be kidding me right!!! That officer was outside in the open air!!!!
YOUR COMMENT: Brother Deacon, in this society it's all too common for people to shift the blame to someone else.
and that officer right now is not in the field because he acted in a unprofessional manner of violating Sister Sandra Bland's rights in a traffic stop and pending further investigation.
I guess that is justice then Brother Deacon, he is sitting at a desk. Sandra Bland is dead and how are you going to prevent it happening again?
Tuesday, August 4th 2015 at 10:37AM
Steve Williams
No, what happen to Sister Sandra Bland, that was not justice hut the hate in the harts of those men. We have laws on the books already Brother Steve, let us see how justice plays out in Texas. We got the time.
Respect is a fine line, because we need to respect ourselves too. If you bend over they might take advantage of your position. Don't antagonize is how I would put it.
I agree 100% with staying calm.
Tuesday, August 4th 2015 at 3:38PM
Steve Williams
The family of a black Chicago-area woman who was found hanged in a Texas jail cell three days after a white state trooper stopped her for a minor traffic infraction filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday.
Sandra Bland’s kin are seeking unspecified damages against Trooper Brian Encinia and other Texas officials — and demanding a federal investigation of her tragic death.
“This family’s motivation is that they don’t want to see this sort of thing happen again to another family,” the family’s lawyer, Cannon Lambert, said at a news conference in Houston.
Encinia, 30, had been with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a Trooper for a little over a year prior to his suspension, and, as far as can be determined, had no prior issues on his official record. Bustle has reached out to Texas DPS spokespersons for Encinia's official records and is currently awaiting reply.
In previous years, Encinia had also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Brenham, Texas, fire department, a role which he held for four years. Brenham Fire Chief Ricky Boeker told The Journal that Encinia had been "well liked" and that he had never encountered any problems while with the department.
"He was an excellent firefighter," Boeker told reporters. "He was well liked, and we did not have any issues with him."
An graduate of Texas A&M University's school of Agricultural Leadership & Development and a participant in the school's ROTC Cadet program, Encinia worked for Blue Bell Creameries as an ingredient processor before his tenure as a volunteer firefighter. It was unclear whether Encinia served time in the military after graduation.
All this is a part of the cover up Brother Steve right down to a 55 gallon garbage bag in a cell when you have been strip down from everything. Sandra should not have ever bee arrested in the first place.
/* Ya’ateeh, As Salaam Alaikum, Shalom, Hotep, Hola! One and All :-)
I haven't read all of your comments...but I certainly agree that this is all a bunch of B.S.!
...Anyone's who's ever been arrested, seen the inside of a jail cell, and/or has been held over on whatever charge(s) they lay on you can certainly testify a simple long-time fact in every and all cities across this nation; no shoestrings, no belts, no scarves of any kind, nothing is allowed on a prisoner that will indicate, anticipate, or articulate his or her's ability to cause bodily harm upon themselves.
...A Trash Bag? A bag of plastic? Since when is there a "trash-can" in a prison cell? Are they attempting to reveal the fact that she was spending time in a five-star hotel where they come and change the linen and dump the garbage? Wow, what a most decent and accommodating prison cell - thank you very kindly! Will you please clean the toilet while you here...
Ok, authorities, tell me another one.
Thanks for allowing my anger and comments Ladies and Gentlemen, and you too Good Brother Deacon Ron Grey. (I'll read the comments, I promise :-))
See this is the kind of crap that the powers that be want that uninformed mostly white lower and middle class to believe. Now they put out there and they want the public to believe that there was a 55 gallon can with a bag/55 gallon liner in a jail cell but the sad thing about that is many people will believe that mess and defend that police report to the end of time.
