Day after indictment for perjury, trooper indicted in Sandra Bland case surrenders

The family of Sandra Bland is reacting to the indictment of the Texas State Trooper, who arrested her.

Geneva Reed-Veal told reporters in Chicago Thursday that “there should have been much more” from the grand jury that indicted Trooper Brian Encinia on Wednesday with lying about the circumstances of his traffic stop and arrest of Bland.

HEMPSTEAD – Six months after arresting Sandra Bland during a now-infamous traffic stop, state trooper Brian Encinia on Thursday returned to the Waller County jail where Bland died – this time to surrender to authorities on perjury charges.

In an arrest affidavit he said Bland was out of control, calling her “combative and uncooperative”.

“To charge this guy with a misdemeanor, are you kidding me?”

Encinia, who is white, pulled Bland over on July 10 for making an improper lane change near Prairie View A&M University, her alma mater, where she had just interviewed and accepted a job.

The Texas Department of Public Safety faulted Encinia for his conduct during the traffic stop.

To date, Encinia, 30, has been the only person involved in Bland’s death to be charged. Bland eventually steps out of the vehicle, and Encinia orders her to the side of the road. Bland’s family has questioned autopsy reports that she committed suicide. Prosecutors have declined to say what other charges the grand jury may have considered, citing the secrecy of the proceedings. Three days later she was found hanging with a bin bag around her neck. “I feel like it’s acknowledgement for some of his actions, but not the totality of it. And that’s the problem that we have”. Department Director Steve McCraw said after the incident that Encinia violated internal agency policies of professionalism and courtesy.

Eakin said Encinia now regrets the intemperate language he used with Bland, including his threat to Bland to “light you up” with the stun gun.

A TEXAS police officer who arrested a black woman who subsequently died in custody was sacked on Wednesday after being charged with perjury. She was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the trooper.

Bland’s arrest and death drew the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement.