Sandra Bland's name appeared with others on t-shirts and signs at Black Lives Matter protests. Former Texas Department of Safety Trooper Brian Encinia said he feared for his personal safety after pulling over Sandra Bland in Waller County on July 21, 2015. How many more bodies do we have to see? Im too furious to add anything else constructive at the moment. The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . Lawyers for Blands family have argued that Encinia did not have grounds for the arrest and escalated the confrontation. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. I dont know what happened, but something did, and to me, that was the reasonable suspicion.. The first interview was conducted three months after Blands death in 2015. The trooper, Brian T. Encinia, approached Ms. Bland's car, took her information and returned to his vehicle to write out a citation. How rich is Brian Encinia in 2020-2021? 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. She should be alive. Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. 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. The trooper, Brian Encinia, would later be fired and charged with perjury, though the charge wouldn't stick. Nation Aug 1, 2015 3:44 PM EST. Quick Facts: Where Is Brian Encinia Now? All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. 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.. 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 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 . If convicted of the perjury charge, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Who is Brian Encinia? This decision does not mean that Encinia will not face criminal charges. Bystander video shows Bland on the ground after she had been pulled from her car. In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: Get out of the car! Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . + Friday, October 30, 2020. . Blands mother Geneva Reed-Veal has become an outspoken advocate for police reform. It's all in the hands of law enforcement.". 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. Kellie Chauvinm. (LinkedIn) Trooper Brian Encinia, the officer who stopped 28-year-old Sandra Bland on July 10, 2015, in Waller County, Texas, for failing to properly signal a lane change, has been . 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. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. I talked to one of Sandra Bland's sisters, Sharon Cooper, about the significance of . Amplifying Black voices through news that matters. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjury a decision that sparked further outrage. Here's why that's hard to believe. There are petitions to get Bland's case reopened, including one with more than 1 million signatures. But the lack of an indictment is a strong indicator that Encinia won't get his day in court. It also requires an independent investigation into jail deaths. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I will light you up!. Trooper Encinia said that he was genuinely concerned that something was going on with the violator because of the behavior that she was displaying. Press ESC to cancel. As USA TODAY reported in 2015, video from the Waller County jail provedBland was alive while her mugshots were taken. . Because all I could think about was the knee in my sister's back from Officer Encinia," said Needham. New footage casts doubt on his . We desperately need more critical thinking about the role of police and the narratives they feed us. 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. Pending the outcome of the Texas Ranger and FBI investigation into this incident, the employee involved has been assigned administrative duties. I knew something was wrong, but I didnt know what was wrong. "You have to be the best person that you can be, because you don't know who you are going to encounter on that day," said Needham. 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. | "But I pray for them and I just pray for better days for America because America is messed up right now.". We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. ABC7 Chicago says farewell to Meteorologist Phil Schwarz, Arrest warrant issued for top NFL Draft prospect Jalen Carter, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. Diepraams boss, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis, denies Kelleys claims. Here are the best, CMT Music Awards ticket presale starts Wednesday. Now, Bland's family is alleging that the Texas Department of Public Safety . Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. Encinia's attorney Larkin Eakin Jr. says that Encinia will appeal the termination. . I spoke with Trooper Encinia and explained in great detail the importance of following the seven step violator contact. She studied print journalism at the University of Houston and French at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in France. 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? This video is compelling proof that Trooper Encinia lied, that Sandra Bland posed no threat, and that there was no basis for her arrest. 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. Sandra Bland should still be alive. But Bland was alive when her mugshots were taken. Othersquestioned how a routine traffic stop could have escalated to an assault charge. 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, a 28-year-old black . 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. I think he is afraid of what happened. And many 2020 hopefuls weighed in as well. 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. "This case now represents much more than Brian Encinia," Lewis said. I'm angry," Sandra Bland's sister, Shante Needham, told the I-Team. DeSantis said board members want to see Disney be "what Walt envisioned." Speakers invited by the governor's office to speak at Monday's news conference railed against Disney's . 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 . AFacebook post from June 2020 that is regaining tractionrepeats theclaim that Bland was dead in her mugshotand purports to have photographic evidence. In late July 2015,Waller County, Texas, officialsreleased several hours of video footage showing Bland walking around the jail and sitting for her mugshot. Aside from the violated regulations, there is considerable division in the Texas legal community about the legality of Encinia's actions. The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. CapMetro apologizes for post-Austin FC game service, APA! The second interview was done on Feb. 22, 2016, after he was indicted by a Waller County grand jury on a perjury charge. 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. We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. 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. 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. Now.". Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. . The four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's death were fired and are awaiting trial. (Video: Texas Department of Public Safety). If her video helps someone get there, all the better. Encinia pulled Bland over on July 10 for failing to use her traffic signal. Still,some people felt the details of the case weretoo strange to be true. . 2020. A grand jury declined to charge anyone at the jail in connection to Bland's death. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Her life mattered. "I do believe that one day, I don't know in what capacity, but I do believe that my sister will get some form of justice," Needham said. Dashcam video from Encinia's car showed him holding a stun gun and threatening, "I will light you up!" 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. Sandra Bland. The question is, how seriously can they deliver. A Waller County judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Encinia in the coming days. Although Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Cal.) By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. 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. Waller County District Judge Albert . Orta was released in May 2020 and is under court supervision until January 2022. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. It mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. 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. Most of the time, the blue wall of silence has to get torn down from the outside. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. 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. What is Trading in Cryptocurrency and Where to Practice It. Tweets and Facebook posts with the claim have been shared tens of thousands of times. The Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. I was checking the condition of the vehicle, such as the make, the model, had a license plate, any other conditions.. Brian Encinia, the Texas trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, had been warned about "unprofessional conduct" in 2014, according to documents obtained by the . In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: "Get out of the car! The Texas Department of Public Safety recently released its investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in the Waller County jail in 2015. Waller County settled a wrongful death lawsuit withBlands family for $1.9 million. 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. "He got a bogus charge. Police said Bland died by suicide in her jail cell . That was the only criminal charge he faced. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. We rate the claim that Sandra Bland was dead in her mugshot photo FALSE, based on our research. Page Six reported Friday that the former president "now has a regular gig" as a DJ at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. After Bland allegedly refused to put out her cigarette, Encinia ordered her out of the vehicle. Create your free profile or log in to save this video. Encinia is still assigned to administrative duty for the policy violations. AUSTIN (KXAN) Its dashcam footage that many will never forget and that sparked criticism around the country questioning police use of force. 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. I think he knows what happened. 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. 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 Bland, 28, was found hanged in her Waller County jail cell several days later, sparking allegations of foul play and a nationwide debate about the treatment of black citizens in police custody. Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . His attorney did not return our call. Encinia had been accused of failing to act courteously during his July traffic stop of Bland, prolonging her detention, violating general orders and perjury. US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? Minnesota Derek Chauvin/Place of birth. "When the incident happened with George Floyd, it broke me down. Maybe she fell when she was in handcuffs. "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. tweeted: Immediately re-open the investigation into Sandra Blands arrest and death. 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. The story of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old who was found dead in a Texas jail cell earlier this month, was given . 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 . 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. He said that because of this, "Force was used to subdue Bland to the ground, to which Bland continued to fight back.". We are all in this together. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, TinEye Reverse Image Search, accessed June 18. DPS says it is to prevent release of sensitive security information about the jail. Skepticism of official narratives about Bland's death has persisted online for years. 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. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. Although this issue has not dominated the news in recent weeks, it remains a major problem. Encinia's case was dropped in exchange for a promise he would never again work in law enforcement. Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston. told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. A Texas trooper indicted over his arrest of a black woman who was later found dead in jail has been formally fired, three months after his bosses first announced they would do so, state officials . Brian Encinia is considered as an ex-state trooper who was responsible for arresting Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. 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. A grand jury declined to chargeany of the face of the behavior she!, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund death, delivered the indictment from her car Reverse... Right now in 2020 it was officially filed, the officer says provedBland was alive her. 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