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===Discovery by jailer===
===Discovery by jailer===
Police stated that at 6:30&nbsp;a.m. on July 13, Bland refused breakfast, and a half hour later, around 7:00&nbsp;a.m., told a jailer "I'm fine."<ref name=park /> According to Captain Brian Cantrell, about an hour after stating that she was fine, Bland asked via intercom how to make a phone call. Cantrell stated that Bland was informed she could use the phone in her cell with a [[Personal identification number|PIN]], but stated there was no record Bland made any call.<ref name=mhf /><ref name=ap1 /> Police stated that at 9:00&nbsp;a.m., Bland was found "in a semi-standing position" hanged<!-- "hung" is wrong --> in her cell.<ref name=park /><ref name=mhf />
Police stated that at 6:30&nbsp;a.m. on July 13, Bland refused breakfast and was high on meth and cracked out, and a half hour later, around 7:00&nbsp;a.m., told a jailer "I'm fine."<ref name=park /> According to Captain Brian Cantrell, about an hour after stating that she was fine, Bland asked via intercom how to make a phone call. Cantrell stated that Bland was informed she could use the phone in her cell with a [[Personal identification number|PIN]], but stated there was no record Bland made any call.<ref name=mhf /><ref name=ap1 /> Police stated that at 9:00&nbsp;a.m., Bland was found "in a semi-standing position" hanged<!-- "hung" is wrong --> in her cell.<ref name=park /><ref name=mhf />


The next day, shortly after noon, police issued a statement that Bland had been found dead in her cell, and that they believed she had hanged<!-- "hung" is wrong --> herself. On July 20, one week after Bland's death, authorities released video from a motion-activated camera in the hallway outside Bland's cell.<ref name=ap1>{{cite news |title=Texas authorities release jailhouse video amid controversy over woman's death |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/21/texas-authorities-release-jailhouse-video-in-illinois-woman-death/ |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |agency=Associated Press |website=Fox News |date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> The video has no recording from 7:34 to 9:07&nbsp;a.m., but shows Bland's discovery by a jailer after that time.<ref name=mhf>{{cite news |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |title=Texas town at center of storm over young black woman's death in jail cell |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-officials-release-video-in-texas-jail-hanging-case-20150720-story.html#page=1 |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>
The next day, shortly after noon, police issued a statement that Bland had been found dead in her cell, and that they believed she had hanged<!-- "hung" is wrong --> herself. On July 20, one week after Bland's death, authorities released video from a motion-activated camera in the hallway outside Bland's cell.<ref name=ap1>{{cite news |title=Texas authorities release jailhouse video amid controversy over woman's death |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/21/texas-authorities-release-jailhouse-video-in-illinois-woman-death/ |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |agency=Associated Press |website=Fox News |date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> The video has no recording from 7:34 to 9:07&nbsp;a.m., but shows Bland's discovery by a jailer after that time.<ref name=mhf>{{cite news |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |title=Texas town at center of storm over young black woman's death in jail cell |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-officials-release-video-in-texas-jail-hanging-case-20150720-story.html#page=1 |accessdate=July 21, 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:02, 28 July 2015

Death of Sandra Bland
File:Sandra Bland.jpg
Image from Bland's LinkedIn account
DateJuly 13, 2015 (2015-07-13)
TimeApprox. 9:00 a.m. (CDT)
LocationWaller County Jail, Hempstead, Texas, U.S.
Coordinates30°05′07″N 95°59′23″W / 30.08516°N 95.98975°W / 30.08516; -95.98975 (traffic stop)
30°06′09″N 96°04′31″W / 30.10239°N 96.07535°W / 30.10239; -96.07535 (Waller County Jail)
CauseAsphyxiation; ruled suicide by first autopsy; results of independent autopsy pending
CoronerHarris County Medical Examiner
FootageFull dashcam video (Bland from c. 1:45)
Bland's arrest, filmed by bystander

Sandra Bland was an African-American woman who was found dead in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas, on July 13, 2015. Police said that she had hanged herself and her death was followed by protests disputing the cause of death and alleging racial violence against her.[1] Bland was 28 years old when she died, and had been a critic of police brutality in the United States.

Bland had been pulled over for a minor traffic violation on July 10, by state trooper Brian Encinia. Encinia arrested her following an escalating conflict, which was caught on audio and video recordings, and alleged that she had assaulted him.[2] After the announcement of her death and the release of video footage showing the arrest, the officer was placed on administrative duties for failing to follow proper traffic stop procedures.

On July 16, Texas authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced they had begun a joint investigation into Bland's death.[2] The Waller County district attorney's office said that her death would be investigated as a possible murder.[3] A motion-activated camera outside Bland's cell showed no recording in the hallway for 90 minutes before jailers found her dead.

An autopsy conducted by the Harris County medical examiner ruled her death a suicide and said it found no evidence of a violent struggle. The results from a second independent autopsy requested by Bland's family have not been released.[4]

Background

Sandra Bland

Sandra Annette Bland was from Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and was one of five sisters. She attended Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois, then Prairie View A&M University outside Hempstead, Waller County in Texas, where she was a member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. She graduated in 2009 with a degree in agriculture.[5][6] At Prairie View, she was recruited as a summer counselor for three years, played in a band, and volunteered for a senior citizens advocacy group.[5]

Bland returned to Illinois in 2009. She worked in administration for Cook’s, a food-service equipment supplier, a job she left not long before her death. She had been due to start a temporary job on August 3, 2015, with Prairie View as a summer program associate.[6][7]

In January 2015, Bland began posting videos about many subjects, including police brutality against blacks.[5] In one post she wrote, "In the news that we've seen as of late, you could stand there, surrender to the cops, and still be killed."[8] She has been described as a civil rights activist in Chicago, and a part of the Black Lives Matter campaign.[9][10] Bland had at least ten previous encounters with police in Illinois and Texas, and owed $7,579 in fines.[11]

Brian Encinia

Brian Encinia is a Hispanic man, 30 years old at the time of the incident.[12] He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2008 with a degree in agricultural leadership and development. From 2008 to 2014 he held a position with Blue Bell Creameries as an ingredient-processing supervisor. Previous to his employment as a Waller County state trooper in 2014, he served as a volunteer firefighter with the Brenham fire department for four years.[13]

Traffic stop

Encinia stopped Bland on the afternoon of July 10, 2015, on University Drive[14] in Prairie View, Texas, for failure to signal a lane change.[15][16] In a series of events recorded by his dashcam, Encinia spoke to Bland, the interaction became heated, and he removed her from her car. After they moved out of frame, he placed her on the ground and arrested her.[2]

Dashcam footage

External videos
video icon Full dashcam video – the second DPS upload, reportedly free of "technical issues" (Bland from c. 1:45)
video icon Bland's arrest – filmed by bystander

In response to controversy over Bland's arrest and death, on July 21 police released dashcam footage of the arrest. Parts of the video appeared to be edited, with images of cars and people appearing or vanishing on the road, while the audio of Encinia's voice proceeded without interruption.[16][17] A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) said that irregularities in the video resulted from "technical issues" that occurred when the video was posted.[18] DPS then took down the problem video and replaced it with another version.[19]

The footage shows that Encinia initially wrote a routine traffic violation warning for Bland. After he returns to her car and speaks briefly to her again, he asks her to put out her cigarette. She responds, "Why do I have to put out a cigarette when I'm in my own car?"[9] Encinia orders her to "get out of the car",[9] and, when she repeatedly refuses to exit with the defense of there being no apparent reason for her to do so, he tells her she is under arrest.[20] Bland repeatedly asks why she is under arrest, and Encinia responds, "I am giving you a lawful order."[20] She refuses to leave her car, stating she is not under arrest as she is unaware of the reason and not obliged to.[9] Encinia then opens her car door and tells her more than a dozen times to get out of the car[21] before he tries to pull her out. After struggling he draws his Taser and points it at Bland,[9] shouting "I will light you up! Get out! Now!", at which point she exits her vehicle.[16][20]

Once Bland is out of her car, the officer orders her to put down her cell phone and tells her she is going to jail. In response, Bland asks why. In the video, both Bland and the officer move to the passenger side of the vehicle and are no longer visible,[22] while they continue to argue heatedly. Bland can be heard crying and screaming.[16]

Eyewitness accounts

In a video recorded by a bystander, Bland is on the ground with a police officer above her. Bland says that she cannot hear, and states that the officer has slammed her head into the ground.[2] In the video, a second officer who has arrived orders the bystander to leave the area.[23] Another witness and friend of Bland's told local news that after the police officer forced Bland from her car, he "tossed her to the ground, knee to the neck."[8]

According to police, Bland was "argumentative and uncooperative".[24]

Arrest

A DPS spokesperson stated that police arrested Bland because she allegedly kicked Encinia.[22] She was charged with assaulting a public servant.[1] Officers took her to the Waller County Jail and placed her in a cell alone, because they said they deemed her a "high risk" to others.[10]

After her arrest, Bland told her sister that the arresting officer had pushed his knees into her back, and that she feared her arm was broken.[2] A Houston television station states it obtained a voice message left by Bland after her arrest in which she asked, "How did switching lanes with no signal turn into all of this?"[25]

Incarceration and death

Bland's bail was set at $5,000. Her family stated they were attempting to secure the 10 percent ($500) needed to secure her release.[26] Alexandria Pyle, an inmate held in the adjacent cell, later told the media that Bland seemed "sort of distraught," was very emotional, and was crying frequently. Pyle, who spoke to Bland through a tiny chute, said Bland was upset that her friend had not come to bail her out. Pyle stated that she never heard any loud noise or commotion that would indicate foul play in Bland's death.[27]

Discovery by jailer

Police stated that at 6:30 a.m. on July 13, Bland refused breakfast and was high on meth and cracked out, and a half hour later, around 7:00 a.m., told a jailer "I'm fine."[2] According to Captain Brian Cantrell, about an hour after stating that she was fine, Bland asked via intercom how to make a phone call. Cantrell stated that Bland was informed she could use the phone in her cell with a PIN, but stated there was no record Bland made any call.[22][28] Police stated that at 9:00 a.m., Bland was found "in a semi-standing position" hanged in her cell.[2][22]

The next day, shortly after noon, police issued a statement that Bland had been found dead in her cell, and that they believed she had hanged herself. On July 20, one week after Bland's death, authorities released video from a motion-activated camera in the hallway outside Bland's cell.[28] The video has no recording from 7:34 to 9:07 a.m., but shows Bland's discovery by a jailer after that time.[22]

Harris County autopsy

An autopsy conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences concluded that Bland died through asphyxiation, and classified her death as a suicide.[22] Police stated that Bland had used a plastic garbage bag to hang herself.[2] Bland had slight abrasions on her wrists,[29] and 25 to 30 healing, parallel cuts on her left forearm that predated her arrest.[30][31][32]

Funeral

Bland's funeral was held on July 25 at DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lisle, Illinois.[33]

Initial reactions

Calls for independent investigation

Family and friends called for an independent autopsy, and stated that it was unlikely Bland would have killed herself.[2] Bland's family stated that she was upbeat about the job she was about to begin for Prairie View A&M.[7]

In March, Bland posted a video to her Facebook page in which she said was suffering from "a little bit of depression as well as PTSD".[34] Her sister stated that Bland had no "medically diagnosed clinical depression", but had good and bad days.[9] Lambert, the family's lawyer, stated that Bland's March post gave little indication of her mindset around the time of her death.[9]

A friend who spoke with Bland while she was imprisoned said she was upbeat despite the arrest: "It just makes no sense. Sandy was a soldier; she wasn't fazed about it."[5]

Critical response and protests

In the two days after authorities announced her death, 31,000 people tweeted using the hashtag #SandraBland, and an online petition launched calling for an investigation of Bland's death.[23] After three days, 200,000 people had tweeted her name.[8]

Protesters outside the Sheriff's office where Bland died held vigils and demanded an explanation for her death. Protesters also asked why Bland had been stopped, and alleged racial profiling.[1] Reverend Jamal Bryant of the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore traveled to Chicago at the Bland family's request, and called Bland's death "not a case of suicide, but homicide."[28]

Texas State Senator Royce West called Bland's death suspicious.[35] After meeting with law enforcement and other officials to discuss the circumstances surrounding Bland's death, he said that "the kind of information disclosed on Bland's intake form should have prompted jail officials to place Bland on a suicide watch, meaning a face-to-face check on her welfare every 15 minutes instead of the hourly checks normally required."[25]

Bland's death resulted in protests, and calls for further investigation by family, friends and others including Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX).[1] On July 17, about 150 protestors gathered at the Hempstead jail where Bland was found dead, chanting "No justice, no peace", and "We demand answers."[36][37]

Official response and investigation

The FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety announced on July 16 that they had launched an investigation into Bland's death. The officer who arrested Bland was placed on administrative duties for violating procedures for traffic stops, police said.[2][10] Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith, who runs the jail in which Bland died, has been placed in charge of Waller County's investigation into her death.[7] Glenn Smith was suspended and fired from his previous post as chief of police of Hempstead after alleged incidents of racism and brutality.[38][39][40]

On July 20, Waller County district attorney Elton Mathis stated that the county would investigate Bland's death as a possible murder.[3]

Policy violations at jail

According to CNN, Texas State investigation on July 16 ruled that Waller County jail "guards violated policies by failing to do timely checks on inmates," which should be hourly.[32] The report also stated that jail employees had not been adequately trained to deal with mental health problems.[32] The staff had not all undergone the minimum of two hours of mental health training required by the state.[41]

On July 22, county officials produced intake forms that they say indicate Bland had earlier attempted suicide.[25] One questionnaire states that Bland took pills in 2015 after having a miscarriage. Another form filed by a different jail employee says Bland instead attempted suicide earlier, in 2014. One form indicates Bland had contemplated suicide within the past year, while another says she did not.[25]

After a white male prisoner hanged himself with a bedsheet in 2012, Texas state inspectors also cited procedural failings by Waller County Jail's staff.[42]

R. Glenn Smith, the Waller County sheriff, stated that the jail staff may face disciplinary actions for their failures of not putting Bland on a suicide watch, not personally checking on her, and leaving the plastic bag that was fashioned into a noose. The actions “could range from suspensions to transfers to terminations,” he told The New York Times.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Montgomery, David (July 20, 2015). "New Details Released in Sandra Bland's Death in Texas Jail". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Park, Haeyoun (July 20, 2015). "The Disputed Accounts of the Arrest and Death of Sandra Bland". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Ford, Dana (July 21, 2015). "DA: Sandra Bland's death being treated like murder investigation". CNN. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Keneally, Meghan (July 23, 2015). "Sandra Bland's Death Deemed a Suicide, According to Autopsy". ABC News. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Keysor, Jason; Graczyk, Michael (July 18, 2015). "Texas Woman 'In Good Spirits' Before Jail Death, Friend Says". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Ziezulewicz, Geoff; Bird, Bill; Bowean, Lolly (July 16, 2015). "Family wary after Naperville woman's death in Texas jail; grand jury to inquire". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Graham, David (July 21, 2015). "Sandra Bland and the Long History of Racism in Waller County, Texas". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Blake, Evan (July 17, 2015). "Murky death of Sandra Bland points to possible police lynching". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Calvin, Amy; Schuppe, Jon (July 20, 2015). "Sandra Bland's Family's Lawyer Details Dashcam Video of Traffic Stop". NBC News. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Keneally, Meghan (July 20, 2015). "Sandra Bland's Death Probe Being Treated Like a Murder Investigation, DA Says". ABC News. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  11. ^ Smyser, Katy (July 17, 2015). "Suburban Woman Found Dead in Jail Had Previous Encounters With Police". NBC Chicago. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  12. ^ "Sandra Bland: Texas officials deny dashcam footage of arrest was doctored". The Guardian US Edition. July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  13. ^ Campoy, Ana; Koppel, Nathan (July 22, 2015). "Trooper in Sandra Bland Case Is Under Criminal Probe". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (July 24, 2015). "A sign for Sandra Bland: 'Signal lane change or sheriff may kill you'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  15. ^ Stanton, Robert (July 22, 2015). "Video shows that traffic stop of woman who died in Texas jail escalated quickly". Reuters. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  16. ^ a b c d Duchon, Richie (July 22, 2015). "Sandra Bland Death: Texas to Look Into Alleged Edits of Dashcam Video". NBC News.
  17. ^ "Sandra Bland arrest video released by Texas officials". BBC. July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  18. ^ Yang, John (July 22, 2015). "Sandra Bland Death: Officials Say Glitch, Not Editing, Caused Video Irregularities". NBC News. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  19. ^ "Officials Blame Technical Glitch For Loops In Dashcam Video Of Sandra Bland Arrest". WBBM-TV. Chicago, Illinois. July 22, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b c Yan, Holly; Ford, Dana (July 23, 2015). "Sandra Bland's family 'infuriated' at video of her arrest". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  21. ^ "Video rekindles debate about police treatment of blacks". The Blade. Associated Press. July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  22. ^ a b c d e f Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (July 21, 2015). "Texas town at center of storm over young black woman's death in jail cell". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  23. ^ a b Rogers, Katie (July 16, 2015). "F.B.I. Investigating Police Accounts of Black Woman's Death in Custody". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  24. ^ Ohlheiser, Abby; Phillip, Abby (July 22, 2015). "'I will light you up!': Texas officer threatened Sandra Bland with Taser during traffic stop". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  25. ^ a b c d "Sandra Bland was incredulous, aggravated in calls from jail: report". CTV News. Associated Press. July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  26. ^ Sanchez, Ray (July 22, 2015). "What we know about the controversy in Sandra Bland's death". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  27. ^ "Sandra Bland 'distraught,' neighboring inmate says". ABC News. July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "Texas authorities release jailhouse video amid controversy over woman's death". Fox News. Associated Press. July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  29. ^ Rogers, Katie (July 23, 2015). "The Death of Sandra Bland: Questions and Answers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  30. ^ Harris County Medical Examiner (July 14, 2015). "Autopsy Report on the Body of Sandra Annette Bland" (PDF). ABC News. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  31. ^ Rogers, Katie (July 24, 2015). "Sandra Bland's Autopsy Details How She Died". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  32. ^ a b c Botelho, Greg (July 23, 2015). "Officials detail Sandra Bland autopsy findings". CNN. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  33. ^ "Sandra Bland funeral in Illinois draws hundreds". bbc.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  34. ^ Graczyk, Michael (July 20, 2015). "Texas Officials Release Surveillance Footage In Jail Death Of Sandra Bland". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  35. ^ Damon, Andre (July 18, 2015). "Texas prison death highlights police violence in America". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  36. ^ Lewis, Renee (July 17, 2015). "Protesters demand answers in Sandra Bland's death in Texas jail". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  37. ^ Dart, Tom (July 17, 2015). "'What happened to Sandy?': protesters tie Sandra Bland case to US race tensions". The Guardian. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  38. ^ Stengle, Jamie (July 23, 2015). "Q&A: A look at the death of Sandra Bland in Texas jail". Associated Press. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  39. ^ Mathis-Lilley, Ben (July 16, 2015). "Sheriff in Sandra Bland Case Was Fired in 2008 After Racism, Brutality Allegations". The Slate. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  40. ^ Eriksen, Helen (February 20, 2007). "Hempstead police chief accused of racism". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  41. ^ a b Montgomery, David (July 25, 2015). "Sandra Bland Death May Lead to Disciplinary Action, Sheriff Says". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  42. ^ "Texas County's Racial Past Is Seen as Prelude to Sandra Bland's Death". The New York Times. July 26, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
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