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. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Trooper Encinia stated that he understood. A . The trooper, Brian Encinia, was indicted on a charge of perjury. July 17, 2014 "When these kinds of things continue to occur, it's very very hard for families to heal, for the world to heal. Where is he now? As of early 2020, he was in solitary confinement in Collins Correctional Facility. 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.. 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 has never been questioned in a criminal or civil court or spoken publicly to explain his actions that day. We desperately need more critical thinking about the role of police and the narratives they feed us. He completed his education at Texas A&M University. If convicted of the perjury charge, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Amplifying Black voices through news that matters. President Trump has largely defended law enforcement officers since launching his campaign. 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 . 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. The first interview was conducted three months after Blands death in 2015. Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10 by State Trooper Brian Encinia. The trooper, Brian T. Encinia, approached Ms. Bland's car, took her information and returned to his vehicle to write out a citation. Waller County District Judge Albert . Encinia said he then used force to subdue Bland to the ground, and she continued to fight back. "Like, how many more? Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. 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. 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. Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. But Bland was alive when her mugshots were taken. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Now." After Bland asks why Encinia would "threaten to drag me out of my own car," he pulls out his Taser. 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. I'm angry that my sister passed five years ago and they are still killing us. 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. Hours after the indictment, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that Encinia would be fired from his post, reports the New York Times. 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. Sandra Bland's name appeared with others on t-shirts and signs at Black Lives Matter protests. When asked what crime he believed Bland was committing, or about to commit, Encinia responded: I had a feeling that anything couldve been either retrieved or hidden within her area of control. The claim that Bland was dead in her mugshot has proved popular on social media. The defense team for Brian Encinia, the then-DPS trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, may ask for the trial to be moved outside Waller County. 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. Does Chauvin have a wife? Trayvon Martin. 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. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. I was checking the condition of the vehicle, such as the make, the model, had a license plate, any other conditions.. Candidates who take her death seriously show me they take me seriously.. 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 . Maybe she fell when she was in handcuffs. I also advised him to be mindful of comments that may come across as rude when he is dealing with the public. 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? 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. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. 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. FILE - In this July 10, 2015 image made from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, then-Trooper Brian Encinia arrests Sandra Bland after a routine traffic stop led to a . 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I will light you up!. Regardless of the situation, the DPS state trooper has an obligation to exhibit professionalism and be courteous, said DPS Director Steve McCraw. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. ON NOW. AUSTIN (KXAN) Its dashcam footage that many will never forget and that sparked criticism around the country questioning police use of force. 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. By Nola Valente Part of HuffPost Black Voices. 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. Sections of the document are heavily redacted. Although Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Cal.) Menu. The second interview was done on Feb. 22, 2016, after he was indicted by a Waller County grand jury on a perjury charge. And even though we may have experienced some similar things, the pain is different for everyone. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. Sandra Bland's family describes their journey of pain since her death. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. This decision does not mean that Encinia will not face criminal charges. 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. Id like to see candidates continue to take the right stances, even if they are difficult, she said. June 28, 2017. The Exit: Teachers Leave. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. pic.twitter.com/dmhlQAiELZ. Orta was released in May 2020 and is under court supervision until January 2022. Nation Aug 1, 2015 3:44 PM EST. (May 7), George Floyd. the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. Trooper Brian Encinia has been indicted on charges of lying about his arrest of Bland, later found hanged in a jail cell. Her life mattered. VOTE: Whats the best KXAN viewer photo of February? In late July 2015,Waller County, Texas, officialsreleased several hours of video footage showing Bland walking around the jail and sitting for her mugshot. Sandra Bland Tragedy: 7 Things to Know About Her Life and Death. 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. What happened to State Trooper Brian Encinia? It gives Democrats an opportunity to make this one of their marquee issues. The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was arrestedin July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Texasstate trooper Brian Enciniaduringa traffic stop. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. This article was published more than3 years ago. The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . Brian Encinia, the Texas trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, had been warned about "unprofessional conduct" in 2014, according to documents obtained by the . Blands mother Geneva Reed-Veal has become an outspoken advocate for police reform. It's all in the hands of law enforcement.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Bland family received a $1.9 million settlement in their wrongful-death suit. Now.". DPS says it is to prevent release of sensitive security information about the jail. As USA TODAY reported in 2015, video from the Waller County jail provedBland was alive while her mugshots were taken. All Rights Reserved. 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. Thats not always easy. 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. New footage casts doubt on his . 2020. That's not justice for me," Reed-Veal said. The decision to fire Brian Encinia, the Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, was upheld by the Texas Department of Public Safety, a news release says. He pled guilty to drug and gun charges in 2016 and received a four-year prison sentence. 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. But for black women like me, her presence is everywhere. But the lack of an indictment is a strong indicator that Encinia won't get his day in court. 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. Tweets and Facebook posts with the claim have been shared tens of thousands of times. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. 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. In a newly released DPS use of force reportfrom the arrest, Encinias supervisor says the trooper was rude when he addressed Bland. I think things couldve been handled differently, yes sir. 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