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“When somebody dies in custody, it goes to the grand jury in Texas”, Jordan said.
Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, has criticized the jury, saying, “right now the biggest problem I have is the entire process”. He declined to say what charges still could be considered and against whom.
Dashboard camera video of Bland’s arrest on July 10 shows Encinia informing Bland he was giving her a warning for failing to signal a lane change, but then the encounter became heated when he asked her to put out her cigarette. Dash-cam video shows a confrontational exchange between Bland and the arresting Trooper Brian Encinia, who at one point yells, “I will light you up”, while holding a stun gun after she refused to get out of her auto.
However, they have not yet determined if the state trooper who arrested her should face charges.
Sandra Bland was taken handcuffed to the county jail in Hempstead, where she remained when she was unable to raise $500 for bail. Authorities said she hanged herself with a plastic trash bag… “The reason those words matter is the African-American community knows that on any given day, some innocent person like Sandra Bland can get into an auto and then three days later she’s going to end up dead in jail”.
We are certainly glad to see a national debate about how and when law enforcement officials should be held criminally accountable for the deaths of those in their custody, but ultimately, what’s most important is figuring out ways to reduce the number of such cases in the first place.
“We hope we will now receive all the information we’ve requested without limitation so we can proceed with our own investigation of what happened to Sandy Bland”, Rogers said.
Given the county’s long history of institutional racism, Bland’s death has raised concerns that the events leading to her death could have been racially provoked.
On Monday, the family’s attorney, Cannon Lambert, said the grand jury’s decision not to indict was consistent with a cover up by authorities.
Jordan also said the grand jury decided that no Waller County Jail employee would be charged.
Lambert did not seem to feel confident that anything new will develop when the grand jury meets in January.
Geneva Reed-Veal, Ms. Bland’s mother, has since filed a wrongful death suit against the Department of Public Safety, Waller County and the involved officers.
After the hearing, that lasted a little more than an hour, Judge Hittner set a trial date for January 23, 2017, as it relates to the lawsuit filed by the family of Sandra Bland.
One of the most tragic stories of 2015 has neared a conclusion-one that is disappointing for the family of Sandra Bland and those in the country who urged others to “Say her name”.
Waller County officials denied accusations that Bland was mistreated in jail.
Officials previously concluded Bland’s autopsy showed no evidence of homicide.
