Sandra Bland Video: Woman Dies In Jail After Traffic Stop Arrest; Family Rejects Notion Of Suicide

Sandra Bland’s death in her jail cell three days after getting arrested following a traffic stop continues to raise questions after two videos of the dramatic arrest have been released.

Sandra Bland Video

Bland was arrested July 10 in Waller County, Tex. Three days later, while she was still trying to secure the $5,000 in bail money for her release, she was found dead in her jail cell, reported NBC News. An autopsy said that Bland had died of apparent “self-inflicted asphyxiation.” According to the report, Bland hanged herself with a garbage bag from a bathroom partition in her cell.

“DPS has been working closely with the family of Ms. Bland during this investigation, and the department extends our sincere condolences for their tragic loss,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a statement.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a news conference, “There’s a tragedy that happened here. Regardless of who’s at fault at the end, a young lady lost her life. That’s always a tragedy.”

With questions arising over why a 28-year-old college-educated woman who had just landed her dream job at her alma mater would take her own life in such a matter, Waller County Police released the full dashcam video of the arrest. In the video, State Trooper Brian Encinia can be seen and heard getting increasingly aggravated with Bland, who felt that she was wrongfully pulled over.

“You seem very irritated,” Encinia says at one point.

“I am. I really am. Beacuase of what I’ve been stopped for and am getting a ticket for. I was getting out of your way,” Bland tells him. “You’ve been speeding up, tailing me, so I move over and you stop me. So yea, I am a little irritated.”

When Encinia tries to get Bland to exit her vehicle, she refuses. “I am going to yank you out of here! Get out of the car!” Encinia yells. When Bland demands to know why she’s being arrested, the state trooper pulls out his taser and shouts, “Get out of the car! I will light you up.” Shocked at the turn of events, Bland gets out, but continues to contest the arrest.

The dashcam footage fails to show the actual arrest, which happened off to the right of the vehicles. In the audio, Bland can be heard complaining about her wrists and on the verge of tears while chastising the officer for how he’s treating her. A bystander managed to record part of the arrest, showing Bland in a crouched position while the officer stands over her. In the video, Bland is also heard saying that Encinia had shoved her face into the ground.

Waller County Sheriff R. Glenn Smith has insisted that despite Bland’s family’s doubts, and the controversial arrest, that there’s no doubt that Bland committed suicide. Notwithstanding Smith’s assertion, there will be a review of the case, and a murder investigation.

“It has not been determined at this point that this was a murder,” said Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis. “This investigation is being conducted as a murder investigation would. Whatever the ultimate determination may be, whether that’s a suicide or a homicide, that will ultimately be decided by a grand jury.”