Create your free profile or log in to save this video. After Bland allegedly refused to put out her cigarette, Encinia ordered her out of the vehicle. Six officers in Whittier, CA, sued for similar reasons there over a year ago. Bystander video shows Bland on the ground after she had been pulled from her car. ON NOW. Bland family members say they were disappointed most of the police reform portions of the bill were eliminated in the version that passed. He has said he did not understand the context of the phrase at the time. Im sure many people would rather not bring Sandra Bland back up again. Source Austin American-Statesman. 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 . 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. There must be full accountability and justice.. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. But Bland was alive when her mugshots were taken. You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. + Blands death drew outrage from people concerned with police violence against Black Americans. I will light you up!. 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. 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. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. 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. 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. Sandra Bland should still be alive. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Click to copy. 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. Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Ross Weidner. Find Brian Encinia current Net worth as well as Salary, Bio, Age, Height and Quick Facts! By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our 2020. Uncredited/AP. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjury a decision that sparked further outrage. Maybe she got kicked, he told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin. Five years after Bland's death, accountability in her case is something Sandra's sister says the family still awaits. 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. As of recent reports, he is . The charge the trooper now faces is a Class A misdemeanor. 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. Sandra Bland's name appeared with others on t-shirts and signs at Black Lives Matter protests. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Corrections officers in upstate New York were caught lying about the circumstances of inmate Leonard Stricklands death in 2010. 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. It also shows Bland sitting down for her mugshot and then getting up. Sandra Bland. At the conclusion of this investigation, any violations of protocols will be addressed. Candidates who take her death seriously show me they take me seriously.. Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10 by State Trooper Brian Encinia. Former Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Brian Encinia claimed in newly released interview recordings that he feared for his safety but could not explain . Al Sharpton, when he clearly said, Black lives matter.. The situation had already gotten out of hand by the time the violator found out what she was receiving. 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. 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 Brian Encinia. 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 . The Exit: Teachers Leave. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. 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. Bland was pulled over on June 10, 2015, during a road trip to Texas from Illinois, where she lived. Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. 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. Three days later, her death in Waller County jail cell 95 was ruled a suicide. 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. Brian Encinia, charged with perjury in the arrest of Sandra Bland, has turned himself in to authorities and is now out on bail. Top Stories. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Brian Encinia, the Texas trooper who arrested Sandra Bland, had been warned about "unprofessional conduct" in 2014, according to documents obtained by the . 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 . It mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment. I talked to one of Sandra Bland's sisters, Sharon Cooper, about the significance of . All Rights Reserved. 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? 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. 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. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Part of HuffPost Black Voices. told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. How rich is Brian Encinia in 2020-2021? 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. Bland was found three days after her arrest hanged with a plastic bag in her cell. Atlantic City Sergeant Mark Benjamin says he got a death threat after reporting officers for abuse of force. Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. What happened to State Trooper Brian Encinia? Her friends and family vigorously denied she would have taken her life, saying suicide was "unfathomable.". Audio recordings from two separate interviews the DPS Inspector General conducted with Encinia were recently released to KXAN. And even though we are seeing it live on the worldwide web, officers are not being held accountable.". Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users who shared the postsfor comment. He arrested her for assault on a public servant. Pending the outcome of the Texas Ranger and FBI investigation into this incident, the employee involved has been assigned administrative duties. 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. The Facebook post includestwo mugshots, one of which shows Bland's eyes appearing to roll back in her head. Brian Encinia is considered as an ex-state trooper who was responsible for arresting Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. 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. CapMetro apologizes for post-Austin FC game service, APA! His attorney did not return our call. Diepraams boss, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis, denies Kelleys claims. Students Suffer. The story of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old who was found dead in a Texas jail cell earlier this month, was given . She studied print journalism at the University of Houston and French at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in France. By PAUL J. WEBER and CLARICE SILBER May 7, 2019 GMT. Encinia had been accused of failing to act courteously during his July traffic stop of Bland, prolonging her detention, violating general orders and perjury. 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. 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. This week, a Dallas news station obtained a cellphone clip recorded by Sandra Bland. I didnt know if a crime was being committed, had been committed or whatnot, said the trooper. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Brian Encinia. 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. tweeted: Immediately re-open the investigation into Sandra Blands arrest and death. Im too furious to add anything else constructive at the moment. Once in handcuffs and placed on the the ground, the violator stated that she has epilepsy. 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. 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, 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. He got recognition from people after he arrested Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. That was the only criminal charge he faced. However, Melissa Hamilton, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston, states the opposite. Comments are off for this post. 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. Joseph Wulfsohn / Fox News: Brian Stelter defends 2020 media coverage of Hunter Biden laptop story: We never labeled it 'disinformation' . He pled guilty to drug and gun charges in 2016 and received a four-year prison sentence. The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . 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's sister said there is a bond among families of Blacks killed by officers. Sandra Bland Tragedy: 7 Things to Know About Her Life and Death. Still,some people felt the details of the case weretoo strange to be true. 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. 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. Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . The trooper, Brian Encinia, would later be fired and charged with perjury, though the charge wouldn't stick. "That did not happen in this situation. 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. Trayvon Martin. Press ESC to cancel. I also advised him to be mindful of comments that may come across as rude when he is dealing with the public. has spoken our forcefully on this issue since she launched her campaign, she has been criticized for past positions related to addressing police brutality. They charged him with perjury. 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. "I'm angry. Here's why that's hard to believe. Kelleys claims that he tried to expose misconduct in Blands case stand out as unusual. Thats not always easy. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. 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 Police said Blanddiedby suicidein her jail cellthree days later. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 20102021 Sign up now to learn about . The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. 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. 6 Things We Know About Brian Encinia, The Texas Trooper Who Arrested Sandra Bland. I think he knows what happened. The video sparked renewed conversation about police misconduct against black Americans. A . https://t.co/YjgKMNDGKV, A ticket for a FAILURE TO SIGNAL lead to #SandraBlands death at the hands of police. the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. 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 . If her video helps someone get there, all the better. For now, he remains employed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. 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. how to get to quezon avenue mrt station Uncovering hot babes since 1919. He completed his education at Texas A&M University. It also shows he did not follow procedure when he didnt tell Bland what action he was going to take and the situation had already gotten out of hand. 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. "When the incident happened with George Floyd, it broke me down. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. President Trump has largely defended law enforcement officers since launching his campaign. New footage casts doubt on his . For many Black Americans, these deaths and others have caused lasting trauma. The Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. 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. Brian Encinia Audio Interview after Bland Death (81 minutes), Brian Encinia Interview after Indictment (24 minutes). 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 video calls into question the officers account of the event. Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. After Bland asks why Encinia would threaten to drag me out of my own car, he pulls out his Taser. He has 15 days . 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. We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. 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. Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. Where is he now? 2010-2021 Derek Chauvin/Wife. Sections of the document are heavily redacted. It's all in the hands of law enforcement.". Police said Bland died by suicide in her jail cell . Orta was released in May 2020 and is under court supervision until January 2022. Menu. I'm angry that my sister passed five years ago and they are still killing us. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. I was checking the condition of the vehicle, such as the make, the model, had a license plate, any other conditions.. "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. 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. A four-year prison sentence his education at Texas a & amp ; M University to KXAN we give the... To surrender his state law enforcement. `` angry that my sister passed five years and. 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