Sandra Bland's Jailhouse Death Will Not Lead To Indictment, Judge Says

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 22, 2015 2:55PM

Activists meet ahead of a rally demanding justice for Sandra Bland on July 28, 2015. Photo by Aaron Cynic/Chicagoist

A Texas grand jury has chosen not to indict anyone in connection with the jailhouse death of Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old African American woman from Naperville who was found hanged in her jail cell 3 days after being arrested during a routine traffic stop.

Bland was on her way to a job interview when she was pulled over by Waller County state trooper Brian T. Encinia. Dashcam video shows that during the stop, Encinia forcibly removed Bland from her car after she refused to put out a cigarette she was smoking, with the officer shouting "I am going to drag you out of here...I will light you up.” He also threatened her with a taser and later slammed her to the ground. Off camera, Bland can be heard yelling “"You're about to break my wrist."

Bland was taken to a nearby county jail where she remained due to being unable to post $500 bail. She was found dead in her cell three days later, hanged with a plastic garbage bag. Officials ruled her death a suicide.

“After presenting all the evidence as it relates to the death of Sandra Bland, the grand jury did not return an indictment,” said Jordan, one of five special prosecutors, according to the Sun-Times. “The grand jury also considered things that occurred at the jail and did not return an indictment.”

The Bland family, however, believes that the case hasn’t thoroughly been investigated. In a Monday night interview with the Sun-Times, Cannon Lambert, an attorney for the family, said:

“Unfortunately, our suspicions proved to be accurate. The bottom line is that this whole proceeding, frankly speaking, is a farce in our mind.”

Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, criticized the investigation at a Monday afternoon press conference. “The biggest problem I have is the entire process,” said Reed-Veal, the Los Angeles Times reports. “It's the secrecy of it all.” Special prosecutor Shawn McDonald denied any secrecy in the investigation.

McDonald also said the grand jury has yet to reach a decision as to whether or not officer Ecinia should face charges.

A lawsuit against Encinia and the Waller County Sheriff’s Office is set for trial on Jan. 23, 2017.