The family of Sandra Bland has tentatively agreed to a $1.9 million settlement in their federal wrongful death lawsuit against Waller County and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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In July of 2015, Bland was arrested after a contentious traffic stop at the hands of officer Brian Encinia.
The case made national headlines as it was another in a string of deaths by African-Americans while interacting with police.
Bland (28) was found dead in her cell three days after her July 2015 arrest, with a trash bag around her neck.
These changes will include installing automatic electronic sensors that will monitor whether or not guards are performing timely cell checks, educating guards on jailer screening and ensuring that there is a staff nurse or emergency medical technician during all shifts.
Lambert says authorities also say they will solicit new state legislation to fund revised booking and intake training, which they say will be named for Bland if it is passed. Her death was ruled a suicide, and Bland’s family later sued Waller County and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“The Waller County defendants… emphasize they vigorously deny any fault or wrongdoing, and the potential settlement does not involve any such admissions”, Simmons told NBC News. The parties also agreed in writing that the potential settlement was to remain confidential until finalized, after which time it would be public record.
Bland’s death sparked outrage from those who said she never should have been arrested in the first place.
She was arrested and taken to the Hempstead jail, located about 60 miles northwest of Houston.
On Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety, which employs state troopers, said the agency was not part of the wrongful death settlement. Bland refused so Encinia resorted to physical force to pull her from her auto and place her under arrest. Bland eventually stepped from her vehicle, and Encinia ordered her to the side of the road.
As we’ve reported, “no one has been indicted on criminal charges of Bland’s death or for her arrest itself”.
Bland was detained after a minor traffic violation when the arresting officer failed to follow proper traffic stop procedures.
Reed-Veal says while she feels she still has not received the full story on her daughter’s death, she is hopeful that the changes called for in the agreement will prevent future tragedies.
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“Bland began swinging her elbows at me and then kicked my right leg in the shin”, Encinia said in the statement. The video showed the trooper holding a stun gun and yelling, “I will light you up!” after Bland refused to get out of her vehicle. Encinia, who was sacked from his job by the Texas Department of Public Safety, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of perjury in March. County officials said Bland was treated well while locked up and produced documents that showed she gave jail workers inconsistent information about whether she was suicidal.
