Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw is upholding his preliminary decision to terminate Trooper Brian Encinia from the department for reasons related to the trooper’s traffic stop of Sandra Bland on July 10, 2015.
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The Texas Department of Public Safety’s announcement comes three months after Brian Encinia was charged with perjury. regarding details of his arrest of Sandra Bland. Larkin Eakin, Encinia’s attorney has previously called the indictment “unjustified ” and said his client was concerned for his safety. Her family has filed a lawsuit that states Bland, who told jail officials of a previous suicide attempt, wasn’t given proper supervision.
Bland’s death sparked protests and attracted the attention of Black Lives Matter activists who demanded an investigation into how she died while in custody.
Once Bland finally steps out of her vehicle, the trooper orders her to the side of the road. The confrontational traffic stop with the trooper was recorded on dashcam video. Encinia became fired up when Sandra Bland refused to put out her cigarette and the situation only escalated from there as the enraged trooper draws his stun gun on an unarmed Bland followed by a fierce “I will light you up!” threat. The confrontation continues off-camera but is still audible. Bland was taken to the Waller County Jail that day and was found dead in her cell on July 13.
Encinia said he then used force “to subdue Bland to the ground”, and she continued to fight back, the affidavit said. The case is set to go to trial in January 2017.
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According to The Inquisitr, The Texas grand jury ruled that Waller County Jail was not at fault for Bland’s death.
