Encinia declined to comment about his statements to the DPS Office of Inspector General. 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. + 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. Bystander video shows Bland on the ground after she had been pulled from her car. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. It's all in the hands of law enforcement.". 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. Waller County settled a wrongful death lawsuit withBlands family for $1.9 million. | Uncredited/AP. . Encinia is still assigned to administrative duty for the policy violations. 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. The lengthy dashcam video of Encinia and Blands encounter, followed by the comparative dearth of clear information on what happened to her in the three days between her arrest and when she was found dead in a county jail cell, made the incident a national headline. But for black women like me, her presence is everywhere. Sandra Bland Tragedy: 7 Things to Know About Her Life and Death. Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. "That did not happen in this situation. Encinia, who still awaits trial on the perjury indictment, may appeal his firing under department rules. 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. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. 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. "This case now represents much more than Brian Encinia," Lewis said. Top Stories. All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. Now." After Bland asks why Encinia would "threaten to drag me out of my own car," he pulls out his Taser. The traffic stop quickly escalated and Bland was arrested. Bland was pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10 by State Trooper Brian Encinia. 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. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Academy Award-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry talks about being nominated for an oscar award. Pending the outcome of the Texas Ranger and FBI investigation into this incident, the employee involved has been assigned administrative duties. Offers may be subject to change without notice. The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. A grand jury declined to charge anyone at the jail in connection to Bland's death. Sandra Bland. "I'm angry, absolutely. 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. (Video: Texas Department of Public Safety). Police said Bland died by suicide in her jail cell . As of early 2020, he was in solitary confinement in Collins Correctional Facility. Students Suffer. Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . Now.". Click to copy. After Bland allegedly refused to put out her cigarette, Encinia ordered her out of the vehicle. 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. This recording raises new questions about Encinias account and the investigation that followed. 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. There must be full accountability and justice.. 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. Does Chauvin have a wife? Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. Where is he now? 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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 . The Facebook post includestwo mugshots, one of which shows Bland's eyes appearing to roll back in her head. Enough is enough," said Needham. "Like, how many more? 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. The Bland family received a $1.9 million settlement in their wrongful-death suit. 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. 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 . Her friends and family vigorously denied she would have taken her life, saying suicide was "unfathomable.". I do believe however that Trooper Encinias adrenaline level was very high at that time and that he was very emotional after just getting attacked by the violator. USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users who shared the postsfor comment. 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. As for the former Texas state trooper who arrested Bland, the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. It mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment. 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. 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 A Texas grand jury decided not to hand down indictments against anyone connected to the death of Sandra Bland, including her arresting officer, Texas state trooper Brian Encinia. She should be alive. Diepraams boss, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis, denies Kelleys claims. The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? And he was met with applause last month while speaking at a convention of the National Action Network, founded by the Rev. Joseph Wulfsohn / Fox News: Brian Stelter defends 2020 media coverage of Hunter Biden laptop story: We never labeled it 'disinformation' . 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. The first interview was conducted three months after Blands death in 2015. Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. I was checking the condition of the vehicle, such as the make, the model, had a license plate, any other conditions.. When George Floyd died last spring, emotions from the Bland family tragedy were rekindled. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. For now, he remains employed by the . Bland was 28 years old. President Trump has largely defended law enforcement officers since launching his campaign. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. ", Encinia wrote in a report that Bland had become combative and was swinging and kicking at him. 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 . We do not know exactly where he is right now in 2020. Create your free profile or log in to save this video. Brian Encinia, charged with perjury in the arrest of Sandra Bland, has turned himself in to authorities and is now out on bail. By Nola Valente We rate the claim that Sandra Bland was dead in her mugshot photo FALSE, based on our research. A dozen officers in New York City sued the NYPD last year alleging that they have faced retaliation from supervisors for trying to expose the continued use of quotas in the city despite department officials claims to have reformed those rules. Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. 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. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. Al Sharpton, when he clearly said, Black lives matter.. This week, a Dallas news station obtained a cellphone clip recorded by Sandra Bland. pic.twitter.com/dmhlQAiELZ. 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. Where is he now? 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. 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. 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. They could have charged him with so many other charges, but they charged him with a perjury. 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 . Where was Derek Chauvin born? 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Three days later, her death in Waller County jail cell 95 was ruled a suicide. 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. . 2020. A native Texan, Nola serves as reporter for the Katy edition of Community Impact Newspaper. 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. Minnesota Derek Chauvin/Place of birth. 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. That was the only criminal charge he faced. 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. "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. As USA TODAY reported in 2015, video from the Waller County jail provedBland was alive while her mugshots were taken. Sandra Bland/Place of birth. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. 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. how to get to quezon avenue mrt station Uncovering hot babes since 1919. Hours after the indictment, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that Encinia would be fired from his post, reports the New York Times. CapMetro apologizes for post-Austin FC game service, APA! 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. Sections of the document are heavily redacted. All we know is that he is not active on any social media platforms. He arrested her for assault on a public servant. I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. 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. The Texas state trooper who stopped Bland, Brian Encinia, was charged with lying to investigators for saying his safety was in jeopardy. Derek Chauvin/Wife. At the conclusion of this investigation, any violations of protocols will be addressed. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, TinEye Reverse Image Search, accessed June 18. Source Austin American-Statesman. (May 7), George Floyd. Was Brian Encinia scared during Sandra Bland traffic stop? What is Trading in Cryptocurrency and Where to Practice It. Menu. "When the incident happened with George Floyd, it broke me down. Bland had driven through a stop sign as she left the Prairie View A&M campus, but the trooper admitted he was unsure if it was on private or public property. Six officers in Whittier, CA, sued for similar reasons there over a year ago. 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 reporter who had exposed the videos existence was later barred from a press conference with city leaders about the killing. Tweets and Facebook posts with the claim have been shared tens of thousands of times. How many more bodies do we have to see? subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Blands mother Geneva Reed-Veal has become an outspoken advocate for police reform. The Exit: Teachers Leave. This video is compelling proof that Trooper Encinia lied, that Sandra Bland posed no threat, and that there was no basis for her arrest. During Bland's arrest, Encinia threatened her with a taser, as Texas state Sen. Royce West confirmed. The charge the trooper now faces is a Class A misdemeanor. Now, Bland's family is alleging that the Texas Department of Public Safety . AFacebook post from June 2020 that is regaining tractionrepeats theclaim that Bland was dead in her mugshotand purports to have photographic evidence. The post includes a pictureshowing Bland in an orange jumpsuit with her eyes rolled back into her head. Texas lawmakers passed the Sandra Bland Act in 2017. But Bland was alive when her mugshots were taken. 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. All Rights Reserved. Encinia's case was dropped in exchange for a promise he would never again work in law enforcement. Trooper Encinia said that he was genuinely concerned that something was going on with the violator because of the behavior that she was displaying. "He got a bogus charge. He might be in the clear currently, but where is Brian Encinia now? 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. "When these kinds of things continue to occur, it's very very hard for families to heal, for the world to heal. 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. 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