By Nola Valente 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The Texas state trooper who stopped Bland, Brian Encinia, was charged with lying to investigators for saying his safety was in jeopardy. Academy Award-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry talks about being nominated for an oscar award. 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. Protesters have made use of Garners last words, I cant breathe, as a slogan and chant against police brutality since Garners death and Pantaleos grand jury decision. 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 situation had already gotten out of hand by the time the violator found out what she was receiving. Video of the traffic stop and Bland's death -- which the county coroner ultimately ruled suicide -- prompted investigations by the Texas Rangers and the FBI. 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. He got recognition from people after he arrested Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. Trooper Brian Encinia was fired after failing to rebut disciplinary charges leveled against him in January, Public Safety Director Steven McCraw . The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. He might be in the clear currently, but where is Brian Encinia now? I think things couldve been handled differently, yes sir. For many Black Americans, these deaths and others have caused lasting trauma. has spoken our forcefully on this issue since she launched her campaign, she has been criticized for past positions related to addressing police brutality. 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 . Where is he now? His attorney did not return our call. Corrections officers in upstate New York were caught lying about the circumstances of inmate Leonard Stricklands death in 2010. + 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. 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. Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. 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. I was checking the condition of the vehicle, such as the make, the model, had a license plate, any other conditions.. White males accounted for 44 percent of all fatal police shootings, and Hispanic males accounted for 18 percent.. Thats not always easy. 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 . Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. The trooper, Brian Encinia, was indicted on a charge of perjury. Brian Encinia Audio Interview after Bland Death (81 minutes), Brian Encinia Interview after Indictment (24 minutes). "That did not happen in this situation. 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 . Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. . 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. Police said Bland died by suicide in her jail cell . Most of the time, the blue wall of silence has to get torn down from the outside. Encinia, who still awaits trial on the perjury indictment, may appeal his firing under department rules. 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. This article was published more than3 years ago. They could have charged him with so many other charges, but they charged him with a perjury. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Sandra Bland should still be alive. 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. As of recent reports, he is currently 34 years of age. Waller County settled a wrongful death lawsuit withBlands family for $1.9 million. Naperville, IL The 28-year-old black woman was pulled over by a Texas state trooper in July 2015 after failing to signal a lane change. 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.. Who was the Texas state trooper that pulled over Sandra Bland? | He has said he did not understand the context of the phrase at the time. And I previously wrote how South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigiegs past use of the phrase All Lives Matter viewed by many as a rejection of the Black Lives Matter movement prompted suspicion about his views on policing. Oct. 13, 2016 Updated: Oct. 13, 2016 3:53 p.m. 21. after she refuses to get out of her car. Celeb News; Actor; Actress; Web Stars; . Now." After Bland asks why Encinia would "threaten to drag me out of my own car," he pulls out his Taser. 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. AFacebook post from June 2020 that is regaining tractionrepeats theclaim that Bland was dead in her mugshotand purports to have photographic evidence. After Bland asks why Encinia would threaten to drag me out of my own car, he pulls out his Taser. Bland is heard on the video crying and in distress as she repeatedly tells officers that they were hurting her and that she couldn't hear after being slammed into the ground. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. 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. Knowing he could not ticket Bland for failure to stop at the sign, Encinia went on to explain why he followed her. The claim that Bland was dead in her mugshot has proved popular on social media. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. What is Trading in Cryptocurrency and Where to Practice It. "We all need each other. Encinia is still assigned to administrative duty for the policy violations. Still,some people felt the details of the case weretoo strange to be true. 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. 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. Trooper Encinia said that he was genuinely concerned that something was going on with the violator because of the behavior that she was displaying. Skepticism of official narratives about Bland's death has persisted online for years. Trayvon Martin. 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. How rich is Brian Encinia in 2020-2021? . We are all in this together. 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. As USA TODAY reported in 2015, video from the Waller County jail provedBland was alive while her mugshots were taken. "I'm angry, absolutely. "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. She shouldve never been arrested. Blands family said it was never shown the clip and called on Texas officials to reopen a criminal investigation against the arresting officer. . Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. Bland was 28 years old. Three days later, Bland was found dead in jail, of an apparent suicide. Police say Sandra Bland killed herself in jail. Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. 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. Bland, a 28-year-old Black woman, was arrestedin July 2015 for allegedly assaulting Texasstate trooper Brian Enciniaduringa traffic stop. But Bland was alive when her mugshots were taken. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We rate the claim that Sandra Bland was dead in her mugshot photo FALSE, based on our research. I didnt know if a crime was being committed, had been committed or whatnot, said the trooper. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our However, Melissa Hamilton, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston, states the opposite. 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. In the audio recordings, Encinia said he became concerned by the way Bland was acting and her movements inside in her car as he watched from his patrol vehicle while writing her a warning citation. All Rights Reserved. Page Six reported Friday that the former president "now has a regular gig" as a DJ at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Hours after the indictment, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced that Encinia would be fired from his post, reports the New York Times. The footage shows Bland walking back and forth in the jail's entryway. "This case now represents much more than Brian Encinia," Lewis said. 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. When George Floyd died last spring, emotions from the Bland family tragedy were rekindled. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. It mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment. But the lack of an indictment is a strong indicator that Encinia won't get his day in court. The second interview was done on Feb. 22, 2016, after he was indicted by a Waller County grand jury on a perjury charge. Bland was found three days after her arrest hanged with a plastic bag in her cell. I knew something was wrong, but I didnt know what was wrong. Now.". 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. Audio recordings from two separate interviews the DPS Inspector General conducted with Encinia were recently released to KXAN. 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. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. At the time, the police officer who arrested Bland said he feared for his life. 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 . This week, a Dallas news station obtained a cellphone clip recorded by Sandra Bland. Comments are off for this post. Get out of the car! he shouts while pointing it at her chest. Brian Encinia is considered as an ex-state trooper who was responsible for arresting Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. Brian Encinia given written counseling while a probationary trooper Texas officials say Encinia violated internal policies during traffic stop The boots of Texas Department of Public Safety. At the conclusion of this investigation, any violations of protocols will be addressed. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. 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. But for black women like me, her presence is everywhere. Amplifying Black voices through news that matters. I think he knows what happened. Kellie Chauvinm. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. How many more bodies do we have to see? 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. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 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. Police said Blanddiedby suicidein her jail cellthree days later. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Because all I could think about was the knee in my sister's back from Officer Encinia," said Needham. Blands death drew outrage from people concerned with police violence against Black Americans. Enough is enough," said Needham. 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. Encinia had been accused of failing to act courteously during his July traffic stop of Bland, prolonging her detention, violating general orders and perjury. She studied print journalism at the University of Houston and French at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in France. 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. "In my opinion, Trooper Brian Encinia's actions were the . The four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd's death were fired and are awaiting trial. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. It also requires an independent investigation into jail deaths. | 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. 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 . Trooper Encinia stated that he understood. 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. 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 . Thank you for supporting our journalism. Candidates who take her death seriously show me they take me seriously.. 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. 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. 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. 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. The reporter who had exposed the videos existence was later barred from a press conference with city leaders about the killing. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. During Bland's arrest, Encinia threatened her with a taser, as Texas state Sen. Royce West confirmed. This recording raises new questions about Encinias account and the investigation that followed. Im sure many people would rather not bring Sandra Bland back up again. Her friends and family vigorously denied she would have taken her life, saying suicide was "unfathomable.". Joseph Wulfsohn / Fox News: Brian Stelter defends 2020 media coverage of Hunter Biden laptop story: We never labeled it 'disinformation' . 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 . He has not mentioned Bland since this new video was released. This video is compelling proof that Trooper Encinia lied, that Sandra Bland posed no threat, and that there was no basis for her arrest. 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. Deaths and others have caused lasting trauma account and the investigation that followed investigation, any of! Things couldve been handled differently, yes sir saying good Encinia Audio Interview after (! 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