This week, a Dallas news station obtained a cellphone clip recorded by Sandra Bland. 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. Where is he now? ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. Bland, 28, was found hanging in her jail cell three days after state trooper Brian Encinia arrested her after a routine traffic stop July 10, 2015. 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. As of recent reports, he is currently 34 years of age. This is a short clip of police video that shows Sandra Bland's arrest in Texas on July 10, three days before she died in a county jail. The Facebook post includestwo mugshots, one of which shows Bland's eyes appearing to roll back in her head. If convicted of the perjury charge, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Maybe she got kicked, he told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin. Brian Encinia. He has not mentioned Bland since this new video was released. Encinia had claimed in an affidavit that Bland was "combative and uncooperative," which grand jurors determined to be untrue. Naperville, IL The Washington Post reported that the number of fatal shootings by police increased in 2018 compared to 2017, according to an ongoing Washington Post database project that tracks the fatal shootings. The claim that Bland was dead in her mugshot has proved popular on social media. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. The first interview was conducted three months after Blands death in 2015. 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. But Encinia said he didnt know what he was arresting Bland for but would come up with something, Kelley says. 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. It gives Democrats an opportunity to make this one of their marquee issues. 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. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. 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.. 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. 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. The post includes a pictureshowing Bland in an orange jumpsuit with her eyes rolled back into her head. Once in handcuffs and placed on the the ground, the violator stated that she has epilepsy. 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 . 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 . 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. 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. Thats not always easy. 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. He pled guilty to drug and gun charges in 2016 and received a four-year prison sentence. 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. 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. Atlantic City Sergeant Mark Benjamin says he got a death threat after reporting officers for abuse of force. CapMetro apologizes for post-Austin FC game service, APA! . 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. 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. They could have charged him with so many other charges, but they charged him with a perjury. Brian Encinia is considered as an ex-state trooper who was responsible for arresting Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. 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. Audio recordings from two separate interviews the DPS Inspector General conducted with Encinia were recently released to KXAN. 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 Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. Click to copy. Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. Thank you for supporting our journalism. The footage shows Bland walking back and forth in the jail's entryway. 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. July 17, 2014 Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. "I'm angry, absolutely. Derek Chauvin/Wife. Regardless of the situation, the DPS state trooper has an obligation to exhibit professionalism and be courteous, said DPS Director Steve McCraw. Sandra Bland's own video of 2015 Texas traffic stop surfaces. Three days later, Bland was found dead in jail, of an apparent suicide. Al Sharpton, when he clearly said, Black lives matter.. Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. 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 . The Texas Department of Public Safety recently released its investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in the Waller County jail in 2015. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjurya decision that sparked further outrage. Bystander video shows Bland on the ground after she had been pulled from her car. ON NOW. Uncredited/AP. 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. I think he knows what happened. 6 Things We Know About Brian Encinia, The Texas Trooper Who Arrested Sandra Bland. And even though we are seeing it live on the worldwide web, officers are not being held accountable.". "But I pray for them and I just pray for better days for America because America is messed up right now.". The video sparked renewed conversation about police misconduct against black Americans. That was the only criminal charge he faced. "We all need each other. The traffic stop quickly escalated and Bland was arrested. It continues to happen. Encinia is still assigned to administrative duty for the policy violations. 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. You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. 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 . What is Trading in Cryptocurrency and Where to Practice It. 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. The images aired Monday night marked the first time that most people had seen the traffic encounter as Ms. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. Sandra Bland Tragedy: 7 Things to Know About Her Life and Death. 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? 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 . As of early 2020, he was in solitary confinement in Collins Correctional Facility. He has said he did not understand the context of the phrase at the time. 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. Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . She and eight other Mothers of the Movementseven of whom lost their children to police violence, one of whom lost her daughter to gang violence in Chicago, and one of whom had her son killed by a white Florida man who had gotten angry with he and his friends for playing music too loudplayed a prominent role in Tuesday nights Democratic National Convention proceedings. There are petitions to get Bland's case reopened, including one with more than 1 million signatures. We desperately need more critical thinking about the role of police and the narratives they feed us. Who is Brian Encinia? As of recent reports, he is . The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . And many 2020 hopefuls weighed in as well. 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. Dashcam video from Encinia's car showed him holding a stun gun and threatening, "I will light you up!" In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: Get out of the car! They charged him with perjury. 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. Bryan has the knack to jump right into any coding language and become an expert extremely fast. Im sure many people would rather not bring Sandra Bland back up again. For many Black Americans, these deaths and others have caused lasting trauma, Road trip for suburban woman ends in jailhouse death, BuzzFeed Helped Spread Far-Fetched Conspiracy Theories About Sandra Blands Death, Sandra Bland: Anonymous release video claiming to 'expose Texas police for releasing dead mugshot', Sandra Bland Death: Texas to Look Into Alleged Edits of Dashcam Video, #JusticeForSandy: Sandy Bland Death in Texas Jail Sparks Questions, Sandra Bland death triggers #IfIDieInPoliceCustody trend, Sandra Bland's family settles wrongful death case for $1.9M, Trooper Who Arrested Sandra Band Formally Fired, Newly released Sandra Bland video shows her alive at Texas jail before death, Social media speculates whether Bland is dead in mugshot. Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston. The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. 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 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. Academy Award-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry talks about being nominated for an oscar award. 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. Tweets and Facebook posts with the claim have been shared tens of thousands of times. I dont know what happened, but something did, and to me, that was the reasonable suspicion.. Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was arrested in July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Texas state trooper Brian Encinia during a traffic stop. the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. In May, the world responded with protests and riots after George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody. Encinia had claimed in an affidavit that Bland was combative and uncooperative, which grand jurors determined to be untrue. By PAUL J. WEBER and CLARICE SILBER May 7, 2019 GMT. I talked to one of Sandra Bland's sisters, Sharon Cooper, about the significance of . It also requires an independent investigation into jail deaths. For now, he remains employed by the . 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. Texas lawmakers passed the Sandra Bland Act in 2017. He might be in the clear currently, but where is Brian Encinia now? I also advised him to be mindful of comments that may come across as rude when he is dealing with the public. Was Brian Encinia scared during Sandra Bland traffic stop? In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: "Get out of the car! 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. Part of HuffPost Black Voices. (Designed by Jos Dennis/Community Impact Newspaper). has spoken our forcefully on this issue since she launched her campaign, she has been criticized for past positions related to addressing police brutality. Find Brian Encinia current Net worth as well as Salary, Bio, Age, Height and Quick Facts! FACT CHECK: . Waller County officials released video that shows Bland alive as her mugshot wastaken. Nation Aug 1, 2015 3:44 PM EST. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our 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 . I didnt know if a crime was being committed, had been committed or whatnot, said the trooper. Amplifying Black voices through news that matters. Her friends and family vigorously denied she would have taken her life, saying suicide was "unfathomable.". All Rights Reserved. We rate the claim that Sandra Bland was dead in her mugshot photo FALSE, based on our research. AUSTIN (KXAN) Its dashcam footage that many will never forget and that sparked criticism around the country questioning police use of force. https://t.co/YjgKMNDGKV, A ticket for a FAILURE TO SIGNAL lead to #SandraBlands death at the hands of police. When speaking with Trooper Encinia about this he said that he had no intentions of being rude. Hours after the indictment, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that Encinia would be fired from his post, reports the New York Times. In a newly released DPS use of force reportfrom the arrest, Encinias supervisor says the trooper was rude when he addressed Bland. Aside from the violated regulations, there is considerable division in the Texas legal community about the legality of Encinia's actions. His attorney did not return our call. But for black women like me, her presence is everywhere. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjury a decision that sparked further outrage. Candidates who take her death seriously show me they take me seriously.. Blands mother Geneva Reed-Veal has become an outspoken advocate for police reform. 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. 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