Bland, 28, was arrested during a confrontational traffic stop in Texas three days before she was found dead in her Waller County Jail cell on July 13.
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A video of that traffic showed Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brian Encinia quickly losing his temper with an irritated Bland, ordering her to get out of her vehicle and, when she failed to do so, threatening to use a Taser on her, promising to “light you up” if she did not comply.
The family of Sandra Bland is demanding that a Waller County Jail be ordered to release all evidence pertaining to the 28-year-old’s July death. The county’s motion included a copy of the autopsy pronouncing her death a suicide.
Attorneys for the jail refuse to turn over any additional evidence, saying that the pending criminal investigation prohibits them to do so, but Bland’s family remains skeptical. Medical examiners ruled her death a suicide.
Unlike the previous assessment used during intake screenings – which occur immediately after inmates arrive in jail – the new form provides jailers with specific instructions on when to contact mental health professionals or their supervisors.
The filing says bland was given a suicide screening when she was booked, but that she became despondent when family and friends didn’t raise the $515 she needed for bail.
Lawyers for Waller County officials also said in the filing that jail staff did everything by the book, asking Bland if she was now suicidal.
State regulators have given Texas county jails a December 1 deadline to implement new measures aimed at better preventing jailhouse suicides.
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Larry Rogers Jr., one of several lawyers representing Bland’s mother, said Thursday that the motion for summary judgment is “premature” because the plaintiffs have not seen the investigative report into the death.
