Family of Sandra Bland filing federal lawsuit

The family of Sandra Bland will file a federal lawsuit over the 28-year-old’s death in police custody, according to the family’s attorney.

The lawsuit alleges that those who held Bland in Waller County Jail were “willful, wanton and reckless in failing to provide adequate monitoring of Sandra Bland to keep her safe and secure”.

The discovery of Bland’s body in her cell three days later with a trash bag around her neck in an apparent hanging provoked suspicions of racist treatment. He said information the family has received from law enforcement has been inconsistent, which raises concerns about what has and hasn’t been given to them.

Bland is pulled over in Prairie View, northwest of Houston, for changing lanes without signaling. The findings also show she had marijuana in her system and that about 30 cuts along Bland’s wrist were likely self-inflicted some weeks before her arrest.

Reed-Veal seeks an unspecified amount in damages and a jury trial related to the case. Bland was arrested and charged with assaulting an officer, a felony, with the incident recorded by the police car’s dashboard camera. She added that the several written requests for those questions that the family and general public still have are being ignored.

“Period”, Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, said at a news conference.

The Department of Public Safety has said Encinia acted improperly in the stop.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has already cited the jail over some of these matters, including that guards failed to observe Bland in-person at least once every hour.

No mention was made by the family about Sandra Bland’s personal responsibility in disobeying an order from a police officer and her alleged assault of the trooper.

– July 17: About 100 protesters questioning Bland’s death march from the Waller County jail to the courthouse in Hempstead.

In addition to Encinia, the suit named the Texas Department of Public Safety, Waller County, the county’s sheriff’s department and two jailers as defendants.

Bland was arrested July 10th as she drove to Prairie View A&M University to take a new job. Disturbing video of her arrest shows how quickly Bland and Encinia’s encounter escalated after he told her to put out her cigarette.

“We are looking for Waller County and the individuals involved in this situation to take accountability”.