Jump to content

Death of Sandra Bland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bjn5089 (talk | contribs) at 04:01, 23 July 2015 (added reference to sheriff being suspended for alleged racism). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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.
CauseAsphyxiation (disputed)
Deaths1

On July 13, 2015, Illinois native Sandra Bland was found dead in a jail cell in Waller County, Texas. Police stated that Bland had hanged herself. Her death was followed by protests disputing the cause of her death and alleging racial violence against Bland, who was black.[1] Bland was 28 years old at the time of her death and a critic of police brutality in the United States.

Bland had been pulled over three days earlier for a traffic violation, and then arrested in a series of events that are unclear.[2] Police alleged that Bland assaulted the officer who pulled her over. After the announcement of Bland's 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 stated that Bland's death would be investigated as a possible murder.[3] A motion-activated camera outside Bland's cell, provided by police, shows no recording in the hallway for 90 minutes before jailers found Bland dead.

Background

Sandra Bland

Bland was from Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and one of five sisters. Bland attended Prairie View A&M University outside Hempstead, Waller County in Texas for her undergraduate education.[4] At Prairie View, Bland was recruited as a summer counselor for three years, played in a band, and volunteered for a senior citizens advocacy group.[4]

Bland returned to Illinois in 2009, and in January 2015 began posting videos about many subjects, including police brutality against blacks.[4] In one post Bland wrote, "In the news that we've seen as of late, you could stand there, surrender to the cops, and still be killed."[5] Bland has been described as a civil rights activist in Chicago, and a part of the Black Lives Matter campaign.[6][7] In July Bland, now 28 years old, came back to Hempstead seeking a job at Prairie View A&M University.[1][6] She had reportedly secured a job at the University.[8]

Bland had previously recorded videos in March 2015 detailing her struggle with depression and PTSD. According to jail intake forms, Bland reported that she was depressed and had previously attempted suicide, but on a different form, she responded "no" to other questions about depression and suicide attempts. Her sister has stated that Sandra was not diagnosed with depression or PTSD.[9]

Traffic stop

Police stated that on July 10, Bland was stopped by Brian Encinia, a white Texas State Trooper,[10] for failure to use her turn signal while changing lanes.[2][11] In a series of events that are unclear, Bland was removed from her car, placed on the ground and arrested.[2]

Dashcam footage

In response to controversy over Bland's arrest and death, on July 21 police released dashcam footage of Bland's 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 proceeds without interruption.[11][12] A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety said that irregularities in the video resulted from "technical issues" that occurred when the video was posted.[13]

The footage shows that Encinia initially wrote a routine traffic violation warning for Bland. After a brief exchange, Encenia asks Bland to put out her cigarette. Bland responds, "why do I have to put out a cigarette when I'm in my own car?"[6] At that point, Encinia orders Bland to "get out of the car."[6] Bland refuses, stating she is not under arrest and not obliged to leave her car. After Encinia opens Bland's car door and tries to pull her out, he draws his taser and points it at Bland.[6] Encinia shouts, "I will light you up."[11]

Once Bland is out of her car, the officer orders her to put down her cell phone, and tells her she is going to prison. 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,[14] while they continue to argue heatedly.[11]

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.[15] 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."[5]

According to police, Bland was "argumentative and uncooperative."[16]

Arrest

A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman stated that police arrested Bland because she allegedly kicked the officer.[14] Bland was charged with assaulting a public servant.[2]

Officers took Bland to the Waller County Jail and placed her in a cell alone, because they said they deemed her a "high risk" to others.[7]

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]

Death

Police stated that at 6:30 a.m. on July 13, Bland refused breakfast, 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 her prison cell's phone with a pin, but stated there was no record Bland then made any call.[14][17] Police stated that at 9:00 a.m., Bland was found "in a semi-standing position" hanged in her cell.[2][14]

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. An autopsy conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences concluded that Bland died through asphyxiation, and classified her death as a suicide.[14] Police stated that Bland had used a plastic garbage bag to hang herself.[2]

On July 20, one week after Bland's death, Texas police released video from a motion-activated camera in the hallway outside Bland's cell.[17] The video has no recording from 7:34 to 9:07 a.m., but shows Bland's discovery by a jailer after that time.[14]

Initial reactions

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.[8]

Authorities stated that investigations into Bland's death would consider a Facebook video she uploaded in March, in which she stated she was depressed.[7] Bland's sister stated that Bland had no "medically diagnosed clinical depression," but had good and bad days.[6] Lambert, the family's lawyer, stated that Bland's March post gave little indication of her mindset in June before she died.[6]

A friend and mentor who spoke with Sandra while she was imprisoned said Sandra was upbeat despite the arrest: "It just makes no sense. Sandy was a soldier; she wasn't fazed about it."[4]

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.[15] After three days, 200,000 people had tweeted her name.[5]

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."[17]

Texas state senator Royce West called Bland's death suspicious.[18]

Concerns surface about Waller County sheriff Glenn Smith, who has been placed in charge of the investigation into Bland's death, about accusations of racial discrimination that led to a suspension from policing, probation, and anger management. "[19]

Official response

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][7] 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.[8]

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

Protests

Bland's death resulted in protests, and calls for further investigation by family, friends and others including congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.[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."[20][21]

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 21, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Park, Haeyoun (July 20, 2015). "The Disputed Accounts of the Arrest and Death of Sandra Bland". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Ford, Dana (July 21, 2015). "DA: Sandra Bland's death being treated like murder investigation". CNN. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d Keneally, Meghan (July 20, 2015). "Sandra Bland's Death Probe Being Treated Like a Murder Investigation, DA Says". ABC News. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Yan, Holly; Sanchez, Ray; Ford, Dana (July 22, 2015). "Sandra Bland's family 'infuriated' at video of her arrest". CNN. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  10. ^ The New York Times July 22, 2015
  11. ^ a b c d Duchon, Richie (July 22, 2015). "Sandra Bland Death: Texas to Look Into Alleged Edits of Dashcam Video". NBC News. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "Sandra Bland arrest video released by Texas officials". BBC. July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  13. ^ Yang, John (July 22, 2015). "Sandra Bland Death: Officials Say Glitch, Not Editing, Caused Video Irregularities". NBC News. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Damon, Andre (July 18, 2015). "Texas prison death highlights police violence in America". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  19. ^ "'Hempstead police chief accused of racism.': Former chief suspended for racist behavior". chron.com. February 20, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2015. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Lewis, Renee (July 17, 2015). "Protesters demand answers in Sandra Bland's death in Texas jail". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  21. ^ Dart, Tom (July 17, 2015). "'What happened to Sandy?': protesters tie Sandra Bland case to US race tensions". The Guardian. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Death_of_Sandra_Bland&oldid=672678542"