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 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. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Over a year after Sandra Bland died in police custody, an officer involved in the case is giving the world a glimpse into how the blue wall of silence works inside the law enforcement industry. At the conclusion of this investigation, any violations of protocols will be addressed. Her friends and family vigorously denied she would have taken her life, saying suicide was "unfathomable.". | 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. Knowing he could not ticket Bland for failure to stop at the sign, Encinia went on to explain why he followed her. 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. 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. Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. Nola was previously a foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, Israel covering Middle East news through an internship with an American news outlet. That's not justice for me," Reed-Veal said. Bryan has the knack to jump right into any coding language and become an expert extremely fast. I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? But for black women like me, her presence is everywhere. I didnt know if a crime was being committed, had been committed or whatnot, said the trooper. 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. Here's why that's hard to believe. 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. Candidates who take her death seriously show me they take me seriously.. Sandra Bland's name appeared with others on t-shirts and signs at Black Lives Matter protests. 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. The trooper, Brian Encinia, was indicted on a charge of perjury. DPS fired him in 2016. Yes, her blood is in their hands.Police & prosecutors hid her cellphone video of her arrest for 4 years. 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. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Al Sharpton, when he clearly said, Black lives matter.. Waller County officials released video that shows Bland alive as her mugshot wastaken. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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.. WATCH: Dashcam video of Sandra Bland traffic stop. Orta was transferred multiple times during his imprisonment. The footage shows Bland walking back and forth in the jail's entryway. This article was published more than3 years ago. He completed his education at Texas A&M University. He has not mentioned Bland since this new video was released. 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. After Bland allegedly refused to put out her cigarette, Encinia ordered her out of the vehicle. We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. On July 10, 2015, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia pulls over a 28-year-old Black woman, Sandra Bland, for failing to signal a lane change. "It is a threat to all police officers in the state of Texas of a runaway grand jury or a rogue prosecutor deciding to . I think things couldve been handled differently, yes sir. A native Texan, Nola serves as reporter for the Katy edition of Community Impact Newspaper. The reporter who had exposed the videos existence was later barred from a press conference with city leaders about the killing. Kellie Chauvinm. "He got a bogus charge. There have been 179 this year, according to Mappingpoliceviolence.org. He pled guilty to drug and gun charges in 2016 and received a four-year prison sentence. Derek Chauvin/Wife. This week, a Dallas news station obtained a cellphone clip recorded by Sandra Bland. Former congressman Beto ORourke (D-Tex.) Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. Enough is enough," said Needham. I'm angry that my sister passed five years ago and they are still killing us. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. Conflicting accountsfrom law enforcement officialsalso created a vacuum for alternativeexplanationsto blossom. Did they not watch the video? The first interview was conducted three months after Blands death in 2015. The post includes a pictureshowing Bland in an orange jumpsuit with her eyes rolled back into her head. tweeted: Immediately re-open the investigation into Sandra Blands arrest and death. In order for families, and the world, to begin to even trust law enforcement, there has to be accountability," she said. 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. Encinia had been accused of failing to act courteously during his July traffic stop of Bland, prolonging her detention, violating general orders and perjury. In May, the world responded with protests and riots after George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody. There are petitions to get Bland's case reopened, including one with more than 1 million signatures. Although Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Cal.) A Waller County judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Encinia in the coming days. | Her life mattered. More: George Floyd. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Naperville, IL For now, he remains employed by the . New footage casts doubt on his . Prairie View, TX, police officer Michael Kelley says that a local prosecutor and police officials suppressed facts about Blands initial arrest while investigating Brian Encinia, the man who actually cuffed and booked Bland. 2020. In late July 2015,Waller County, Texas, officialsreleased several hours of video footage showing Bland walking around the jail and sitting for her mugshot. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. And he was met with applause last month while speaking at a convention of the National Action Network, founded by the Rev. 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 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! Popular Networth. A grand jury declined to charge anyone at the jail in connection to Bland's death. told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. If her video helps someone get there, all the better. The second interview was done on Feb. 22, 2016, after he was indicted by a Waller County grand jury on a perjury charge. 20102021 This recording raises new questions about Encinias account and the investigation that followed. 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. Friday, October 30, 2020. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (Video: Texas Department of Public Safety). When George Floyd died last spring, emotions from the Bland family tragedy were rekindled. She had a large mark on her head. . 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. Id like to see candidates continue to take the right stances, even if they are difficult, she said. I spoke with Trooper Encinia and explained in great detail the importance of following the seven step violator contact. A . 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. 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. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. The newly surfaced video begins when the trooper walks back . It mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment. 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 . As of recent reports, he is currently 34 years of age. Needham said that it's a start, but deaths of Blacks caused by police continue. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. 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. Kelleys claim that the DAs office tried to intimidate him resonate with other stories of police officers speaking up when they believe their colleagues or bosses broke the law or violated someones civil rights. Sandra Bland's own video of 2015 Texas traffic stop surfaces. "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. Find Brian Encinia current Net worth as well as Salary, Bio, Age, Height and Quick Facts! The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. 2010-2021 Derek Chauvin/Wife. Diepraams boss, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis, denies Kelleys claims. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Nationwide tensions over the deathsof Black Americans in police custody particularly at traffic stopsandevidence that law enforcement officialsedited several segments from the dashcam videoalso heightened skepticism. Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was arrested in July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Texas state trooper Brian Encinia during a traffic stop. I dont know what happened, but something did, and to me, that was the reasonable suspicion.. Nation Aug 1, 2015 3:44 PM EST. 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. But when investigators asked why he didnt order Bland out of the car at that point or ask what she was doing, Encinia said he had no answer. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. Does Chauvin have a wife? USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users who shared the postsfor comment. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. ON NOW. Sandra Bland. 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