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. 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. 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. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. 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. I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. Kellie Chauvinm. . Blands death drew outrage from people concerned with police violence against Black Americans. Page Six reported Friday that the former president "now has a regular gig" as a DJ at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The hacker group Anonymous stoked the flames of conspiracywhen itreleased a video claiming law enforcement officials murdered Bland during the traffic stop and took mugshot photos of her body to cover their tracks. In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: Get out of the car! I think he knows what happened. Joseph Wulfsohn / Fox News: Brian Stelter defends 2020 media coverage of Hunter Biden laptop story: We never labeled it 'disinformation' . Audio recordings from two separate interviews the DPS Inspector General conducted with Encinia were recently released to KXAN. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. 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. Source Austin American-Statesman. Tweets and Facebook posts with the claim have been shared tens of thousands of times. Lawyers for Blands family have argued that Encinia did not have grounds for the arrest and escalated the confrontation. We are all in this together. Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. "But I pray for them and I just pray for better days for America because America is messed up right now.". 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 . New footage casts doubt on his . Sandra Bland's own video of 2015 Texas traffic stop surfaces. Needham said that it's a start, but deaths of Blacks caused by police continue. Six officers in Whittier, CA, sued for similar reasons there over a year ago. Now, newly released audio recordings show former Texas Department of Safety Trooper Brian Encinia claims he feared for his own personal safety after pulling over Sandra Bland, a28-year-old black woman, in Waller County on July 21, 2015. 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 lengthy dashcam video of Encinia and Blands encounter, followed by the comparative dearth of clear information on what happened to her in the three days between her arrest and when she was found dead in a county jail cell, made the incident a national headline. Nola was previously a foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, Israel covering Middle East news through an internship with an American news outlet. There are petitions to get Bland's case reopened, including one with more than 1 million signatures. After Bland asks why Encinia would threaten to drag me out of my own car, he pulls out his Taser. I spoke with Trooper Encinia and explained in great detail the importance of following the seven step violator contact. The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . After reviewing the in-car video of the incident and speaking with Trooper Encinia, I have the following concerns: I believe that the concerns listed above are training related. Activist Brittany Packnett, a member of President Barack Obamas Task Force on 21st Century Policing, told The Fix that these conversations must be revisited despite how challenging they can be. 2020. 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. + He told me it wouldnt be good for my career, Kelley told McLaughlin, adding that Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepraam also threatened to put him beneath the jail if he went public with his story. Encinia, who also has been indicted on a criminal charge of perjury, stopped Bland for what police said was failure to signal a lane change and arrested her after a confrontation that began when he ordered her to put out her cigarette. Updated October 27, 2020. Who is graffitiing I was raped, I am OK in ATX? 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. balked at Encinia's perjury misdemeanor charge. I'm angry that my sister passed five years ago and they are still killing us. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjurya decision that sparked further outrage. Lawyers for Bland's family have argued that Texas state trooper Brian Encinia had no grounds for the July arrest. "He got a bogus charge. By PAUL J. WEBER and CLARICE SILBER May 7, 2019 GMT. 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. Skepticism of official narratives about Bland's death has persisted online for years. 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. 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. Three days later, Bland died by suicide in her jail cell. More: George Floyd. Al Sharpton, when he clearly said, Black lives matter.. Encinia is still assigned to administrative duty for the policy violations. Sandra Bland should still be alive. Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Ross Weidner. In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: "Get out of the car! 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. Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . 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. Trooper Encinia said that he was genuinely concerned that something was going on with the violator because of the behavior that she was displaying. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Uncredited/AP. By Nola Valente 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. Encinia had been accused of failing to act courteously during his July traffic stop of Bland, prolonging her detention, violating general orders and perjury. 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. 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.. FACT CHECK: . Hours after the indictment, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that Encinia would be fired from his post, reports the New York Times. And when a grand jury was weighing an indictment against Enciniawho was eventually charged with perjury and fired from the Prairie View forceKelley wanted to testify to what hed seen and heard, but says the prosecutor would not let him. Once in handcuffs and placed on the the ground, the violator stated that she has epilepsy. Six years after the highly publicizeddeath of Sandra Bland in police custody, social media users continue to circulate aconspiracy theorythat police took mugshots after Bland had already died. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed in the New York City borough of Staten Island after Daniel Pantaleo, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, put him in a prohibited chokehold while arresting him. Id like to see candidates continue to take the right stances, even if they are difficult, she said. Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. Sandra Bland's family describes their journey of pain since her death. 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. Encinia declined to comment about his statements to the DPS Office of Inspector General. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. "I'm over it. This video is compelling proof that Trooper Encinia lied, that Sandra Bland posed no threat, and that there was no basis for her arrest. Encinia had claimed in an affidavit that Bland was "combative and uncooperative," which grand jurors determined to be untrue. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The situation had already gotten out of hand by the time the violator found out what she was receiving. "We all need each other. Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. Still Practicing: Tracking Problem Doctors, Texas Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Investigations, Sign up for More than the Score Sports newsletter. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. 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. Academy Award-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry talks about being nominated for an oscar award. Sandra Bland was found dead of suicide in a Texas jail cell in July 2015 after being arrested by state trooper Brian Encinia, who claimed she threatened his safety. 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. White males accounted for 44 percent of all fatal police shootings, and Hispanic males accounted for 18 percent.. All information will be forwarded to OIG for further investigation. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . Part of HuffPost Black Voices. AFacebook post from June 2020 that is regaining tractionrepeats theclaim that Bland was dead in her mugshotand purports to have photographic evidence. (May 7), George Floyd. Joe Crystal was a rising star in the Baltimore Police Department until he blew the whistle on fellow cops who had covered up a brutal beating of a handcuffed suspect, and was hounded out of the department. The Exit: Teachers Leave. When speaking with Trooper Encinia about this he said that he had no intentions of being rude. The Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. 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. The post includes a pictureshowing Bland in an orange jumpsuit with her eyes rolled back into her head. 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. USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users who shared the postsfor comment. All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. 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 Texas Department of Public Safety recently released its investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in the Waller County jail in 2015. 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. Now.". Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. Friday, October 30, 2020. . AUSTIN (KXAN) Its dashcam footage that many will never forget and that sparked criticism around the country questioning police use of force. The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. Where is he now? 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 . A . Im too furious to add anything else constructive at the moment. Police said Blanddiedby suicidein her jail cellthree days later. Menu. A Waller County judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Encinia in the coming days. . But for all that attention, and video evidence suggesting Blands only offense was getting angry with a cop she felt was mistreating her, the exact circumstances of her death remain unknown. Encinia had claimed in an affidavit that Bland was combative and uncooperative, which grand jurors determined to be untrue. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. In late July 2015,Waller County, Texas, officialsreleased several hours of video footage showing Bland walking around the jail and sitting for her mugshot. As for the former Texas state trooper who arrested Bland, the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The story of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old who was found dead in a Texas jail cell earlier this month, was given . The Facebook post includestwo mugshots, one of which shows Bland's eyes appearing to roll back in her head. Encinia, who still awaits trial on the perjury indictment, may appeal his firing under department rules. "In my opinion, Trooper Brian Encinia's actions were the . 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 state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. Sandra Bland. 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. The reporter who had exposed the videos existence was later barred from a press conference with city leaders about the killing. The question is, how seriously can they deliver. Bland, 28, was found hanging in her jail cell three days after state trooper Brian Encinia arrested her after a routine traffic stop July 10, 2015. Yes, her blood is in their hands.Police & prosecutors hid her cellphone video of her arrest for 4 years. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. The Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement announcing that Encinia would be placed on indefinite desk duty for violations of department protocols on July 17, four days after Bland was found dead in her Waller County jail cell. All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. At the conclusion of this investigation, any violations of protocols will be addressed. Most of the time, the blue wall of silence has to get torn down from the outside. The DA also insinuated Kelley is only trying to distract from his own misdemeanor indictment over using a taser on city councilman Jonathan Miller in 2015. But the lack of an indictment is a strong indicator that Encinia won't get his day in court. Aside from the violated regulations, there is considerable division in the Texas legal community about the legality of Encinia's actions. Trooper Brian Encinia has been indicted on charges of lying about his arrest of Bland, later found hanged in a jail cell. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. "I'm angry. Sign up now to learn about . 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Austin Zoning: 5 of 7 positions vacant, director, Wildflower forecast: What to expect in Central Texas, As Bowie archive finds new home at UK museum, start, 5 fun crafts for kids on St. Patricks Day, Inspired by the Iditarod race? And even though we are seeing it live on the worldwide web, officers are not being held accountable.". Geneva Reed-Veal, Bland's mother, balked at Encinia's perjury misdemeanor charge, which carries up to a $4,000 fine and a year in jail. Orta was released in May 2020 and is under court supervision until January 2022. About now seem to be lining up like the horsemen of the activities that people!, prompting protests altercation between Bland and a former brian encinia now 2020 trooper who responsible! I will light you up!. Maybe she got kicked, he told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin. The images aired Monday night marked the first time that most people had seen the traffic encounter as Ms. how to get to quezon avenue mrt station Uncovering hot babes since 1919. As part of the agreement, changes were made to procedures at the Texas jail and sensors were installed to ensure checks on detainees are accurately recorded. I also advised him to be mindful of comments that may come across as rude when he is dealing with the public. He said that because of this, "Force was used to subdue Bland to the ground, to which Bland continued to fight back.". Im sure many people would rather not bring Sandra Bland back up again. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. Waller County settled a wrongful death lawsuit withBlands family for $1.9 million. The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. 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