In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: "Get out of the car! Waller County officials released video that shows Bland alive as her mugshot wastaken. Trayvon Martin. This recording raises new questions about Encinias account and the investigation that followed. You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. He arrested her for assault on a public servant. 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. Blands mother Geneva Reed-Veal has become an outspoken advocate for police reform. When the California legislature considered a bill in 2015 that would have required the office of the attorney general, who was Harris at the time, to appoint a special prosecutor to examine deadly police shootings, Harris told the San Francisco Chronicle: I dont think it would be good public policy to take the discretion from elected district attorneys.. Audio recordings from two separate interviews the DPS Inspector General conducted with Encinia were recently released to KXAN. 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 . The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. His attorney did not return our call. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "When the incident happened with George Floyd, it broke me down. Trooper Encinia appears to display rude behavior by asking the violator why she seemed irritated and then, when she quits talking, asking her if she is done. There must be full accountability and justice.. The charge the trooper now faces is a Class A misdemeanor. Did they not watch the video? Sandra Bland's family describes their journey of pain since her death. "But I pray for them and I just pray for better days for America because America is messed up right now.". Click to copy. He completed his education at Texas A&M University. Diepraams boss, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis, denies Kelleys claims. Sandra Bland's name appeared with others on t-shirts and signs at Black Lives Matter protests. "I'm over it. Officials said Bland, who had been a vocal activist against police brutality and mistreatment, was despondent over not being able to post her $500 bail and go free. 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. In the preliminary review of the traffic stop that occurred in Prairie View on July 10, 2015, involving Sandra Bland, we have identified violations of the departments procedures regarding traffic stops and the departments courtesy policy. It's all in the hands of law enforcement.". In the audio recordings, Encinia said he became concerned by the way Bland was acting and her movements inside in her car as he watched from his patrol vehicle while writing her a warning citation. Those who believe that addressing police violence should be part of the ongoing conversation about criminal justice reform will likely be looking to the individuals hoping to replace Trump to provide solutions to a problem that continues to plague communities nationwide. Six officers in Whittier, CA, sued for similar reasons there over a year ago. Encinia is still assigned to administrative duty for the policy violations. Container: FLAC (tracks) Quality: Hi-Fi, lossless audio Sample Rate: 44100 Hz / 16 bit, Stereo Source: CD Album Artist/Name: Brian Eno - Rams - Original Soundtrack Album Genre: Ambient Release Date: 2020 www publisher: hd24bit.com ArtWork: not included Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. Three days later, Bland died by suicide in her jail cell. Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was arrestedin July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Texasstate trooper Brian Enciniaduringa traffic stop. A lawyer for the Bland family says he believes Encinia falsely claimed he was in fear of his personal safety to deflect responsibility for his actions. 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. Blands death drew outrage from people concerned with police violence against Black Americans. "When these kinds of things continue to occur, it's very very hard for families to heal, for the world to heal. When Chicago cops killed Laquan McDonald in late 2014, the official story was that the knife-wielding teenager had lunged at officers who fired in self-defense. For now, he remains employed by the . I unequivocally state that he never approached me, my first assistant, or any member of my staff with any such information, Mathis wrote to the Houston Chronicle. How many more videos do we have to see before law enforcement does something. Bystander video shows Bland on the ground after she had been pulled from her car. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Police said Blanddiedby suicidein her jail cellthree days later. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) A judge dismissed a misdemeanor perjury charge against a fired Texas state trooper Wednesday in a case arising from his 2015 arrest of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was later found dead in a county jail. Trayvon Martin. ", Encinia wrote in a report that Bland had become combative and was swinging and kicking at him. Watch: Booneville holds on to beat Morton 34-30 in MHSAA 3A Semifinals Scorebook Live; Montana Ag Report 3-1-23 KTVQ Billings, MT; Pedestrian deaths on the rise nationwide 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. "I'm angry, absolutely. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The now-fired trooper, Brian Encinia, was indicted on a charge of perjury in January 2016 for allegedly lying in the report he filed after Bland's arrest. Was Brian Encinia scared during Sandra Bland traffic stop? The claim that Bland was dead in her mugshot has proved popular on social media. Brian Encinia is considered as an ex-state trooper who was responsible for arresting Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. I talked to one of Sandra Bland's sisters, Sharon Cooper, about the significance of . He might be in the clear currently, but where is Brian Encinia now? The Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. At the time, the police officer who arrested Bland said he feared for his life. The first interview was conducted three months after Blands death in 2015. Encinia pulled Bland over on July 10 for failing to use her traffic signal. He has said he did not understand the context of the phrase at the time. Even though trooper Brian Encinia had been on the job for about a year, the records give a glimpse of his background. All Rights Reserved. Maybe she fell when she was in handcuffs. The situation had already gotten out of hand by the time the violator found out what she was receiving. Bland was pulled over on June 10, 2015, during a road trip to Texas from Illinois, where she lived. White males accounted for 44 percent of all fatal police shootings, and Hispanic males accounted for 18 percent.. Im sure many people would rather not bring Sandra Bland back up again. A Waller County judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Encinia in the coming days. We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. 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. Police said Bland died by suicide in her jail cell . Sections of the document are heavily redacted. "I'm angry. I spoke with Trooper Encinia and explained in great detail the importance of following the seven step violator contact. Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston. Former San Antonio mayor Julin Castro weighed in as well: The recently released video Sandra Bland took of her own arrest provides the latest example of a police justification for the death of an unarmed black person being revealed as a flat out lie, he wrote. Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. Encinia has never been questioned in a criminal or civil court or spoken publicly to explain his actions that day. The video sparked renewed conversation about police misconduct against black Americans. VOTE: Whats the best KXAN viewer photo of February? Heres How You Can Make A Difference In Honour Of Brianna Ghey, Morgan Doughty Filed A Lawsuit Against The Murdaugh Family, The Woman Nikole Hannah-Jones Credits With Her Career Success, Heres How To Watch The Alex Murdaugh Trial Live, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Brian Encinia given written counseling while a probationary trooper Texas officials say Encinia violated internal policies during traffic stop The boots of Texas Department of Public Safety. All information will be forwarded to OIG for further investigation. Former state Trooper Brian Encinia, who pulled Bland over on July 10, 2015, in Prairie View, Texas, for failing to use a turn signal, no longer faces a perjury charge for making a false statement . (Designed by Jos Dennis/Community Impact Newspaper). Trooper Brian Encinia has been indicted on charges of lying about his arrest of Bland, later found hanged in a jail cell. Here's why that's hard to believe. She should be alive. (May 7), George Floyd. Thats not true, and dashcam video proves itbut everyone from the cops to Mayor Rahm Emanuels office to then-prosecutor Anita Alvarez toed the official line until a judge forced the city to release the video. NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- Video images of violent interactions between law enforcement and Black men and women stir painful memories for the family of Sandra Bland. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10 by State Trooper Brian Encinia. 2010-2021 Derek Chauvin/Wife. The trooper, Brian Encinia, would later be fired and charged with perjury, though the charge wouldn't stick. 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. 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. The new video from Sandra Bland's vantage point shows former Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia pulling a taser on her as she sat in the . 20102021 A prosecutor can still go to trial if he or she believes that the evidence is strong enough to warrant one, and there will still be a grand jury regarding the events surrounding the arrest. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. How many more bodies do we have to see? For now, he remains employed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Washington Post reported that the number of fatal shootings by police increased in 2018 compared to 2017, according to an ongoing Washington Post database project that tracks the fatal shootings. Sign up now to learn about . All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. It gives Democrats an opportunity to make this one of their marquee issues. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. 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. DPS fired him in 2016. Although this issue has not dominated the news in recent weeks, it remains a major problem. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. But Encinia said he didnt know what he was arresting Bland for but would come up with something, Kelley says. More: George Floyd. The question is, how seriously can they deliver. + I think he was fired because of what happened, and I know that the family knows what happened.. Students Suffer. Encinia declined to comment about his statements to the DPS Office of Inspector General. Oct. 13, 2016 Updated: Oct. 13, 2016 3:53 p.m. 21. Othersquestioned how a routine traffic stop could have escalated to an assault charge. She and eight other Mothers of the Movementseven of whom lost their children to police violence, one of whom lost her daughter to gang violence in Chicago, and one of whom had her son killed by a white Florida man who had gotten angry with he and his friends for playing music too loudplayed a prominent role in Tuesday nights Democratic National Convention proceedings. "It is a threat to all police officers in the state of Texas of a runaway grand jury or a rogue prosecutor deciding to . Sandra Bland/Place of birth. Sandra Bland. The Exit: Teachers Leave. Bryan has the knack to jump right into any coding language and become an expert extremely fast. I'm angry," Sandra Bland's sister, Shante Needham, told the I-Team. Trooper Brian Encinia was fired after failing to rebut disciplinary charges leveled against him in January, Public Safety Director Steven McCraw wrote in a letter of final termination. "He got a bogus charge. What is Trading in Cryptocurrency and Where to Practice It. The 30-year old Trooper Encinia is now on administrative duty for violating . 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.. I didnt know if a crime was being committed, had been committed or whatnot, said the trooper. The Post reported: "While the number of black males armed and unarmed who have been killed has fallen, black males continue to be shot at disproportionately high rates, the data shows. We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. He completed his education at Texas A&M University. Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. Lawyers for Bland's family have argued that Texas state trooper Brian Encinia had no grounds for the July arrest. New footage casts doubt on his . If her video helps someone get there, all the better. July 17, 2014 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Brian Encinia, the Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland during a contentious traffic stop, has been indicted on charges of perjury, accused of lying about how he removed . "Whether you like it or not, the Supreme Court has made it clear police are in charge at a traffic stop, and they can make anybody get out of the car driver or passenger for no reason whatsoever," she said. Press ESC to cancel. Bland family members say they were disappointed most of the police reform portions of the bill were eliminated in the version that passed. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. Needham said that it's a start, but deaths of Blacks caused by police continue. This decision does not mean that Encinia will not face criminal charges. Top Stories. On July 10th, 2015, Sandra Bland was pulled over on the outskirts of Houston for failing to signal a lane change. ON NOW. My safety was in jeopardy at more than one time, said Encinia, during an interview by the agencys Office of Inspector General, when asked if he was scared during the traffic stop. "Like, how many more? In order for families, and the world, to begin to even trust law enforcement, there has to be accountability," she said. In the podcast Texas Standard, Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, says that Encinia had no legal authority to order Bland to put out her cigarette or to exit her car. ButHershorn saidbased on the low-resolutionFacebook post it's impossible to tell forcertain whether the image was manipulated. | 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 white state trooper draws his stun gun and points it at close range while ordering her out of her car HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) A judge dismissed a misdemeanor perjury charge against a fired Texas state trooper Wednesday in a case arising from his 2015 arrest of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was later found dead in a county jail Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I think things couldve been handled differently, yes sir. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. During Bland's arrest, Encinia threatened her with a taser, as Texas state Sen. Royce West confirmed. As for the former Texas state trooper who arrested Bland, the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. 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. After Bland asks why Encinia would threaten to drag me out of my own car, he pulls out his Taser. If convicted of the perjury charge, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. | The Texas Tribune Trooper fired for Sandra Bland stop: My safety was in jeopardy. Former Texas Department of Safety Trooper Brian Encinia says he feared for his personal safety after pulling over Sandra Bland in Waller County on July 21, 2015. A pair of officers in Chicago who helped federal officials catch a network of corrupt and abusive cops operating in one of the citys housing projects later said in December that they had been retaliated against by colleagues. Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. I will light you up!. My safety was in jeopardy at more than one time, said Encinia, during an interview with the agencys Office of Inspector General, after being askedif he was scared during the traffic stop that escalated into a physical altercation as he arrested Bland. Encinia, who still awaits trial on the perjury indictment, may appeal his firing under department rules. Trooper Encinia said that he was genuinely concerned that something was going on with the violator because of the behavior that she was displaying. US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? 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. . That was the only criminal charge he faced. And many 2020 hopefuls weighed in as well. The images aired Monday night marked the first time that most people had seen the traffic encounter as Ms. Who was the Texas state trooper that pulled over Sandra Bland? They could have charged him with so many other charges, but they charged him with a perjury. He said that because of this, "Force was used to subdue Bland to the ground, to which Bland continued to fight back.". 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. 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. ``, Encinia threatened her with a perjury police officer.Death of Sandra Bland stop! Is now on administrative duty for violating was being committed, had been or! Bland alive as her mugshot wastaken the Hill and the investigation that followed Encinia in the version that passed on! The car County judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant for in. They deliver for allegedly assaulting Texasstate trooper Brian Enciniaduringa traffic stop for arresting Sandra Bland fired. Bland over on June 10, 2015, Sandra Bland 's name with. Is Brian Encinia had no grounds for the policy violations Bland traffic stop from... 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