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A Texas state trooper has been charged with perjury in relation to the case of Sandra Bland, a Black activist who died of asphyxiation in jail three days after being arrested at a controversial traffic stop.
Trooper Brian Encinia was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday. The misdemeanor charge follows the death of the Chicago area woman, who was found dead in her prison cell in July after an apparent suicide.
Within hours of the grand jury’s announcement, the Department of Public Safety revealed it would begin the process to fire Encinia, who has been on administrative duty since the July incident.
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We won! One less unlawful Cop. #SandraBland
— SC Anonymous (@YourAnonTrews)
January 7, 2016
The indictment was made because Encinia apparently lied about how he pulled Bland out of her car to continue what he called an investigation into a traffic violation that in reality only warranted a written warrant.
RT reported that the video of the arrest showed increasing tension between Bland and Encinia, who at one point brandished his stun gun and yelled out, “I will light you up!”
The officer who arrested #SandraBland was just indicted on perjury charges. Not good enough, but progress. pic.twitter.com/BroKU03tNs
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing)
January 6, 2016
Per Waller County spokesman, an arrest warrant is expected to be issued for Encina tomorrow morning. #SandraBland
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid)
January 6, 2016
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Bland's family has refused to accept the official police version that the incident was a suicide, and has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court.
He should be facing a litany of charges from false arrest to assault and false imprisonment to murder. #SandraBland https://t.co/kBi27sVcxg
— Kali Gross (@KaliGrossPhD)
January 6, 2016
Bland was arrested July 10 after being pulled over by a state trooper for allegedly making an improper lane change.
Bland spent three days in jail after she was unable to pay the US$500 bail. On the third day she was found dead in her cell.
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Prosecutors accuse Encinia of lying about how he got Bland out of her vehicle.
The incident has garnered much attention, with supporters insisting that Bland did not kill herself and that her arrest and subsequent death highlight the racism endemic in the U.S. criminal justice system.Last month the same grand jury announced that there will be no indictment of country jail employees over Bland’s death.
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