He might be in the clear currently, but where is Brian Encinia now? Three days later, Bland died by suicide in her jail cell. 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. 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. He arrested her for assault on a public servant. This video is compelling proof that Trooper Encinia lied, that Sandra Bland posed no threat, and that there was no basis for her arrest. Knowing he could not ticket Bland for failure to stop at the sign, Encinia went on to explain why he followed her. "In my opinion, Trooper Brian Encinia's actions were the . the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. In the video, officer Brian Encinia shouts: "Get out of the car! Once in handcuffs and placed on the the ground, the violator stated that she has epilepsy. Regardless of the situation, the DPS state trooper has an obligation to exhibit professionalism and be courteous, said DPS Director Steve McCraw. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. As of early 2020, he was in solitary confinement in Collins Correctional Facility. The video calls into question the officers account of the event. The reporter who had exposed the videos existence was later barred from a press conference with city leaders about the killing. Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. 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. 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. ABC7 Chicago says farewell to Meteorologist Phil Schwarz, Arrest warrant issued for top NFL Draft prospect Jalen Carter, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. Sign up now to learn about . Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjurya decision that sparked further outrage. July 17, 2014 When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. 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 . I think things couldve been handled differently, yes sir. USA TODAY reached out to several Facebook users who shared the postsfor comment. Source Austin American-Statesman. Texas lawmakers passed the Sandra Bland Act in 2017. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Numerous NYPD officers told local public radio reporters in 2012 that they had been frozen out and labeled as snitches by colleagues after reporting corrupt activity to Internal Affairs. Sandra Bland's own video of 2015 Texas traffic stop surfaces. The 30-year old Trooper Encinia is now on administrative duty for violating . When speaking with Trooper Encinia about this he said that he had no intentions of being rude. We desperately need more critical thinking about the role of police and the narratives they feed us. Bland was found three days after her arrest hanged with a plastic bag in her cell. 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. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms. The trooper, Brian Encinia, would later be fired and charged with perjury, though the charge wouldn't stick. Over a year after Sandra Bland died in police custody, an officer involved in the case is giving the world a glimpse into how the blue wall of silence works inside the law enforcement industry. Even though trooper Brian Encinia had been on the job for about a year, the records give a glimpse of his background. And they want us to trust law enforcement," Needham said. He has said he did not understand the context of the phrase at the time. For many Black Americans, these deaths and others have caused lasting trauma. 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. Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel and Ross Weidner. A new Sandra Bland recording is released, and 2020 Democratic candidates weigh in on police brutality, The latest: Twitter suspends Sen. Lees personal account, The latest: Garland puts in plug for renewing intelligence-gathering tool, Noted: Rep. Pascrell criticizes decision to lay off N.J. congressional reporter, Nikki Haleys bogus claims about foreign aid dollars, Showdown before the raid: FBI agents and prosecutors argued over Trump, Underrecognized: Extremist murders are usually from right-wing actors. She studied print journalism at the University of Houston and French at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in France. after she refuses to get out of her car. Now." After Bland asks why Encinia would "threaten to drag me out of my own car," he pulls out his Taser. The question is, how seriously can they deliver. Nation Aug 1, 2015 3:44 PM EST. At the time, the police officer who arrested Bland said he feared for his life. Encinia was eventually charged, but only with perjury a decision that sparked further outrage. His attorney did not return our call. Updated October 27, 2020. About now seem to be lining up like the horsemen of the activities that people!, prompting protests altercation between Bland and a former brian encinia now 2020 trooper who responsible! He has 15 days . Most of the time, the blue wall of silence has to get torn down from the outside. Her life mattered. As for the former Texas state trooper who arrested Bland, the I-Team was unable to find current contact information for Brian Encinia. Three days later, her death in Waller County jail cell 95 was ruled a suicide. Who is graffitiing I was raped, I am OK in ATX? Brian Encinia is an ex-state trooper in Texas. "I'm angry. 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. On July 10, 2015, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia pulls over a 28-year-old Black woman, Sandra Bland, for failing to signal a lane change. I think its really unfortunate that he would continue to pervert his version of events, said attorney Cannon Lambert. told the Huffington Posts Michael McLaughlin, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. 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. . 2020. Here's why that's hard to believe. (May 7), George Floyd. 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. During Bland's arrest, Encinia threatened her with a taser, as Texas state Sen. Royce West confirmed. In the preliminary review of the traffic stop that occurred in Prairie View on July 10, 2015, involving Sandra Bland, we have identified violations of the departments procedures regarding traffic stops and the departments courtesy policy. Al Sharpton, when he clearly said, Black lives matter.. The Texas state trooper who stopped Bland, Brian Encinia, was charged with lying to investigators for saying his safety was in jeopardy. pic.twitter.com/dmhlQAiELZ. And even though we may have experienced some similar things, the pain is different for everyone. Trooper Encinia responded with an inappropriate comment by saying good. Sandra Bland. 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. 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 . Five Democratic 2020 candidates said video of the 2015 arrest days before the woman was found dead in a cell warrants a new look at the case. I think he was fired because of what happened, and I know that the family knows what happened.. 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. "It is a threat to all police officers in the state of Texas of a runaway grand jury or a rogue prosecutor deciding to . Was Brian Encinia scared during Sandra Bland traffic stop? balked at Encinia's perjury misdemeanor charge. Police said Blanddiedby suicidein her jail cellthree days later. Former San Antonio mayor Julin Castro weighed in as well: The recently released video Sandra Bland took of her own arrest provides the latest example of a police justification for the death of an unarmed black person being revealed as a flat out lie, he wrote. Does Chauvin have a wife? The trooper, Brian T. Encinia, approached Ms. Bland's car, took her information and returned to his vehicle to write out a citation. It's all in the hands of law enforcement.". Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. He told me it wouldnt be good for my career, Kelley told McLaughlin, adding that Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepraam also threatened to put him beneath the jail if he went public with his story. 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 However, Melissa Hamilton, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston, states the opposite. Encinia wrote in his affidavit that he had Bland exit the vehicle and handcuffed her after she became combative, and that she swung her elbows at him and kicked him in his right shin. It also requires an independent investigation into jail deaths. I dont know what happened, but something did, and to me, that was the reasonable suspicion.. The Exit: Teachers Leave. The claim that Bland was dead in her mugshot has proved popular on social media. Page Six reported Friday that the former president "now has a regular gig" as a DJ at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Friday, October 30, 2020. . Sandra Bland's family describes their journey of pain since her death. Stories that matter delivered to your inbox. "He got a bogus charge. Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement, visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston. 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. Sandra Bland's name appeared with others on t-shirts and signs at Black Lives Matter protests. Bland had seen it: a close-up view of the face of the state trooper, Brian T. Encinia . The Texas Department of Public Safety recently released its investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in the Waller County jail in 2015. I will light you up!. I'm angry," Sandra Bland's sister, Shante Needham, told the I-Team. The state Public Safety department moved to fire Encinia after his perjury indictment in January accused him of lying about the confrontation. Bystander video shows Bland on the ground after she had been pulled from her car. 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As Texas state trooper who arrested Bland, Brian Encinia scared during Sandra Bland name...