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. South Carolina officer Michael Slager was charged with murdering Walter Scottbut only after cell phone video from a bystander proved that cops had been lying about Scotts death for days. After Bland asks why Encinia would threaten to drag me out of my own car, he pulls out his Taser. AUSTIN (KXAN) Its dashcam footage that many will never forget and that sparked criticism around the country questioning police use of force. 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. The trooper, Brian Encinia, would later be fired and charged with perjury, though the charge wouldn't stick. Dash cam video shows Encinia, who later claimed that he was attempting to safely conduct a traffic investigation, threatening to use his taser, saying that he was going to light up Bland. Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. 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. Lawyers for Bland's family have argued that Texas state trooper Brian Encinia had no grounds for the July arrest. Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. When speaking with Trooper Encinia about this he said that he had no intentions of being rude. Encinia's attorney Larkin Eakin Jr. says that Encinia will appeal the termination. how to get to quezon avenue mrt station Uncovering hot babes since 1919. In late July 2015,Waller County, Texas, officialsreleased several hours of video footage showing Bland walking around the jail and sitting for her mugshot. 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. 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. 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 . The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. Where is he now? In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: Get out of the car! Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. "I'm angry. A . Sign up now to learn about . And even though we are seeing it live on the worldwide web, officers are not being held accountable.". Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. ", Encinia wrote in a report that Bland had become combative and was swinging and kicking at him. 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. 20102021 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 . Now.". tweeted: Immediately re-open the investigation into Sandra Blands arrest and death. If convicted of the perjury charge, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Kellie Chauvinm. Police said Blanddiedby suicidein her jail cellthree days later. Updated October 27, 2020. Prairie View, TX, police officer Michael Kelley says that a local prosecutor and police officials suppressed facts about Bland's initial arrest while investigating Brian Encinia, the man who actually cuffed and booked Bland. How many more bodies do we have to see? "But I pray for them and I just pray for better days for America because America is messed up right now.". Atlantic City Sergeant Mark Benjamin says he got a death threat after reporting officers for abuse of force. Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. DPS fired him in 2016. Find Brian Encinia current Net worth as well as Salary, Bio, Age, Height and Quick Facts! subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. "This case now represents much more than Brian Encinia," Lewis said. I talked to one of Sandra Bland's sisters, Sharon Cooper, about the significance of . Yes, her blood is in their hands.Police & prosecutors hid her cellphone video of her arrest for 4 years. Sections of the document are heavily redacted. Sandra Bland's own video of 2015 Texas traffic stop surfaces. I think he is afraid of what happened. The trooper, Brian Encinia, was indicted on a charge of perjury. "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. Waller County settled a wrongful death lawsuit withBlands family for $1.9 million. Does Chauvin have a wife? The deciding factor, which might also eventually determine the pending wrongful death lawsuit that Bland's family has brought against Encinia and the department, is whether there was actually a credible threat of danger. The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. 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. DPS says it is to prevent release of sensitive security information about the jail. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. "We all need each other. 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. US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? This recording raises new questions about Encinias account and the investigation that followed. Three days later, her death in Waller County jail cell 95 was ruled a suicide. 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. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. 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.. 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. Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Sign Up for Daily News & Breaking News Newsletters, Sign up for Digging Deep: Inside KXAN Investigates newsletter. "Like, how many more? By Nola Valente For now, he remains employed by the . Aside from the violated regulations, there is considerable division in the Texas legal community about the legality of Encinia's actions. Once in handcuffs and placed on the the ground, the violator stated that she has epilepsy. When George Floyd died last spring, emotions from the Bland family tragedy were rekindled. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Encinia pulled Bland over on July 10 for failing to use her traffic signal. 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. Popular Networth. 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. Six officers in Whittier, CA, sued for similar reasons there over a year ago. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjurya decision that sparked further outrage. When asked why he did not tell Bland why she was under arrest, Encinia said,I dont have a reason for that, no sir., Encinia denied racially profiling Bland, who was upset after being pulled over for not using her turn signal when changing lanes after the trooper raced up behind her. As for the former Texas state trooper who arrested Bland, the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10 by State Trooper Brian Encinia. 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.. Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . Menu. Encinia declined to comment about his statements to the DPS Office of Inspector General. Sandra Bland. Three days later, Bland died by suicide in her jail cell. The Bland family received a $1.9 million settlement in their wrongful-death suit. Trooper Encinia did not follow the seven step violator contact by not telling the violator what action that he was going to take. Her life mattered. In May, the world responded with protests and riots after George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody. AFacebook post from June 2020 that is regaining tractionrepeats theclaim that Bland was dead in her mugshotand purports to have photographic evidence. 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. Where is he now? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Amplifying Black voices through news that matters. 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