Still,some people felt the details of the case weretoo strange to be true. after she refuses to get out of her car. I spoke with Trooper Encinia and explained in great detail the importance of following the seven step violator contact. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjury a decision that sparked further outrage. 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. . Here are the best, CMT Music Awards ticket presale starts Wednesday. 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. We rate the claim that Sandra Bland was dead in her mugshot photo FALSE, based on our research. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. When speaking with Trooper Encinia about this he said that he had no intentions of being rude. Blands death drew outrage from people concerned with police violence against Black Americans. Press ESC to cancel. He completed his education at Texas A&M University. Create your free profile or log in to save this video. Page Six reported Friday that the former president "now has a regular gig" as a DJ at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. For now, he remains employed by the Texas Department of Public Safety. It continues to happen. Where is he now? Waller County settled a wrongful death lawsuit withBlands family for $1.9 million. Who is Brian Encinia? A native Texan, Nola serves as reporter for the Katy edition of Community Impact Newspaper. 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. VOTE: Whats the best KXAN viewer photo of February? US Casinos With FreeSpins: Why Players Like No-Deposit Bonuses? I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. 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. 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. 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. Brian Encinia. Comments are off for this post. has spoken our forcefully on this issue since she launched her campaign, she has been criticized for past positions related to addressing police brutality. Bland was detained, and three days later, she was found hanging in her jail cell. 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. Once in handcuffs and placed on the the ground, the violator stated that she has epilepsy. Although Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Cal.) At the time, the police officer who arrested Bland said he feared for his life. Kellie Chauvinm. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Bland's sister said there is a bond among families of Blacks killed by officers. 6 Things We Know About Brian Encinia, The Texas Trooper Who Arrested Sandra Bland. 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. Aside from the violated regulations, there is considerable division in the Texas legal community about the legality of Encinia's actions. It mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment. Most of the time, the blue wall of silence has to get torn down from the outside. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. 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. Sections of the document are heavily redacted. Black males accounted for 22 percent of all people shot and killed in 2017, yet they are 6 percent of the total population. 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. Thank you for supporting our journalism. Oct. 13, 2016 Updated: Oct. 13, 2016 3:53 p.m. 21. 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. Three days later, her death in Waller County jail cell 95 was ruled a suicide. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. 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 trooper, Brian Encinia, was indicted on a charge of perjury. "I do believe that one day, I don't know in what capacity, but I do believe that my sister will get some form of justice," Needham said. June 28, 2017. Even though trooper Brian Encinia had been on the job for about a year, the records give a glimpse of his background. This week, a Dallas news station obtained a cellphone clip recorded by Sandra Bland. "It is a threat to all police officers in the state of Texas of a runaway grand jury or a rogue prosecutor deciding to . Orta was released in May 2020 and is under court supervision until January 2022. The Texas Department of Public Safety laterfired Encinia for escalating the situation during the traffic stop. But for black women like me, her presence is everywhere. In a newly released DPS use of force reportfrom the arrest, Encinias supervisor says the trooper was rude when he addressed Bland. 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. He said that because of this, "Force was used to subdue Bland to the ground, to which Bland continued to fight back.". Former congressman Beto ORourke (D-Tex.) When George Floyd died last spring, emotions from the Bland family tragedy were rekindled. In late July 2015,Waller County, Texas, officialsreleased several hours of video footage showing Bland walking around the jail and sitting for her mugshot. 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. 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. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. ", Encinia wrote in a report that Bland had become combative and was swinging and kicking at him. 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. Her friends and family vigorously denied she would have taken her life, saying suicide was "unfathomable.". Click here to read Sandra Bland Death Investigation, Editors Note: This story was first published Sept. 15, 2017. Nation Aug 1, 2015 3:44 PM EST. 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. If her video helps someone get there, all the better. 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. 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. Texas lawmakers passed the Sandra Bland Act in 2017. I also advised him to be mindful of comments that may come across as rude when he is dealing with the public. Where was Derek Chauvin born? 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 charge the trooper now faces is a Class A misdemeanor. How many more videos do we have to see before law enforcement does something. Menu. 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. As of recent reports, he is currently 34 years of age. It also requires an independent investigation into jail deaths. Sandra Bland's own video of traffic stop surfaces, Cellphone video recorded by Sandra Bland, a black woman found dead in a Texas jail following a 2015 traffic stop, shows for the first time her perspective as a white state trooper points his stun gun at her while ordering her out of her car. 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. Lawyers for Bland's family have argued that Texas state trooper Brian Encinia had no grounds for the July arrest. During Bland's arrest, Encinia threatened her with a taser, as Texas state Sen. Royce West confirmed. Quick Facts: Where Is Brian Encinia Now? The confrontation ended with Encinia forcibly arresting Bland. Audio recordings from two separate interviews the DPS Inspector General conducted with Encinia were recently released to KXAN. The exchange escalated, resulting in Blands arrest and a charge of assaulting a police officer.Death of Sandra Bland. AUSTIN (KXAN) Its dashcam footage that many will never forget and that sparked criticism around the country questioning police use of force. Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . She studied print journalism at the University of Houston and French at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in France. WATCH: Dashcam video of Sandra Bland traffic stop. The trooper, Brian T. Encinia, approached Ms. Bland's car, took her information and returned to his vehicle to write out a citation. Now.". Brian Encinia Audio Interview after Bland Death (81 minutes), Brian Encinia Interview after Indictment (24 minutes). Pending the outcome of the Texas Ranger and FBI investigation into this incident, the employee involved has been assigned administrative duties. This case should be reopened and justice should finally be served., Nina Turner, co-chair of the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), called the video gut-wrenching and unacceptable.. 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. Find Brian Encinia current Net worth as well as Salary, Bio, Age, Height and Quick Facts! The Texas Department of Public Safety recently released its investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in the Waller County jail in 2015. how to get to quezon avenue mrt station Uncovering hot babes since 1919. Nola was previously a foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, Israel covering Middle East news through an internship with an American news outlet. Five years after Bland's death, accountability in her case is something Sandra's sister says the family still awaits. You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. As of early 2020, he was in solitary confinement in Collins Correctional Facility. Bryan has the knack to jump right into any coding language and become an expert extremely fast. 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. "I'm angry, absolutely. Yesterday afternoon, the grand jury, who declined to chargeany of the officers involved in Blands death, delivered the indictment. 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 completed his education at Texas A&M University. Diepraams boss, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis, denies Kelleys claims. Encinia had claimed in an affidavit that Bland was combative and uncooperative, which grand jurors determined to be untrue. There are petitions to get Bland's case reopened, including one with more than 1 million signatures. Her life mattered. Get out of the car! he shouts while pointing it at her chest. Skepticism of official narratives about Bland's death has persisted online for years. Part of HuffPost Black Voices. I talked to one of Sandra Bland's sisters, Sharon Cooper, about the significance of . They could have charged him with so many other charges, but they charged him with a perjury. Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. He has 15 days . The newly surfaced video begins when the trooper walks back . Who was the Texas state trooper that pulled over Sandra Bland? The Exit: Teachers Leave. Trooper Brian Encinia has been indicted on charges of lying about his arrest of Bland, later found hanged in a jail cell. Three days later, Bland was found dead in jail, of an apparent suicide. Atlantic City Sergeant Mark Benjamin says he got a death threat after reporting officers for abuse of force. At the conclusion of this investigation, any violations of protocols will be addressed. Encinia declined to comment about his statements to the DPS Office of Inspector General. 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. 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. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. If convicted, Encinia could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. 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. He pled guilty to drug and gun charges in 2016 and received a four-year prison sentence. Amplifying Black voices through news that matters. 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 Im too furious to add anything else constructive at the moment. But the lack of an indictment is a strong indicator that Encinia won't get his day in court. By Nola Valente I think he was fired because of what happened, and I know that the family knows what happened.. Click to copy. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "He got a bogus charge. The second interview was done on Feb. 22, 2016, after he was indicted by a Waller County grand jury on a perjury charge. Encinia's case was dropped in exchange for a promise he would never again work in law enforcement. ON NOW. The Texas state trooper who stopped Bland, Brian Encinia, was charged with lying to investigators for saying his safety was in jeopardy. The question is, how seriously can they deliver. 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. Encinia's attorney Larkin Eakin Jr. says that Encinia will appeal the termination. Dashcam video from Encinia's car showed him holding a stun gun and threatening, "I will light you up!" Brian Encinia is considered as an ex-state trooper who was responsible for arresting Sandra Bland who was hanged three days after this arrest. 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. That was the only criminal charge he faced. 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. The charge against Brian Encinia was dropped after he agreed to surrender his state law enforcement . "This case now represents much more than Brian Encinia," Lewis said. There have been 179 this year, according to Mappingpoliceviolence.org. Now." After Bland asks why Encinia would "threaten to drag me out of my own car," he pulls out his Taser. 2020. He has said he did not understand the context of the phrase at the time. 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, charged with perjury in the arrest of Sandra Bland, has turned himself in to authorities and is now out on bail. Both incriminating details were removed from Kelleys incident report before it was officially filed, the officer says. "That did not happen in this situation. "Like, how many more? Sandra Bland's own video of 2015 Texas traffic stop surfaces. I didnt know if a crime was being committed, had been committed or whatnot, said the trooper. He arrested her for assault on a public servant. Gary Hershorn, who spent more than 30 years as a photographyeditor for Reuters, said it would be easy to alterBland's eyes fromthe official mugshot to make them appear to roll back. told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. All information will be forwarded to OIG for further investigation. A Waller County judge is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Encinia in the coming days. Trayvon Martin. 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.

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