Sandra Bland’s Family Seeks Answers, Files Lawsuit

According to KHOU.com, a news release from an attorney representing Sandra Bland’s family says the suit will be filed against state trooper Brian Encinia “and others responsible for the death of Sandra Bland”.

Dashcam video shows Bland’s vehicle being pulled over on 10 July for failing to signal during a lane change.

Three days after being put in custody, Bland’s body was discovered in her cell with a trash bag around her neck.

Family members say they are still waiting on autopsy results that show Bland’s gastric content, ligatures, time of death and other information that should be provided by Waller County.

Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said his office will look at the original arrest to determine if the trooper’s actions were appropriate and to examine Bland’s death in her cell. Encinia has since been placed on desk duty after it was ruled that he violated procedure during the stop.

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. Geneva Reed-Veal also sued the arresting state officer, Brian Encinia, and two sheriff’s officer-jailers, Elsa Magnus and Oscar Prudente, in Federal Court.

The Department of Public Safety said it does not discuss potential or pending litigation. Bland eventually was arrested for allegedly assaulting the trooper.

Local officials have said she was not mistreated in jail.

Today Bland’s family took that call by filing their lawsuit in Houston, asking for the U.S. Department of Justice to provide “a new set of eyes” on the case. We’ve asked for it in writing, but we’re not getting it.’.

FOX 26 legal analyst Chris Tritico says he thinks they do have a case and it will help them get those answers.

According to the suit, the jail workers failed to appropriately respond when the woman didn’t eat her meals and had “bouts of uncontrollable crying.”

An autopsy determined that Bland hanged herself from a partition in the cell.

Authorities have released the findings of a post-mortem examination, surveillance video showing Ms Bland being booked into the jail, her jail admission records and other material.

The Texas Department of Public Safety disputed those claims, saying the “glitches” in the video came during the uploading process.

He said the family was also wanted to pursue the suit because “they don’t want to see this sort thing happen to another family”.