Sandra Bland: Judge orders the FBI to release the Texas Rangers' investigation

[Kind of Blue]

U.S. District Judge David Hittner’s order comes as part of a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Houston by Bland’s family against Brian Encinia, the ex-trooper who arrested Bland during a traffic stop in July 2015.

Others involved in her detention have also been named as defendants in the suit.

Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal has been vehemently pursuing justice for her daughter. She dropped by the JETmag.com offices in Chicago and shared with our staff how excited she was about the news.

“As I told people in the beginning, the indictment means nothing to me. Give me a conviction,” Reed-Veal, told JETMag.com. “We know that you can be indicted for lying [but] you need to go back into the jail because the documents that we’ve received, they contradict and there are some lies going on.”

http://www.jetmag.com/news/sandra-bland-texas-report/#.Vu_ifDFrZ5t

[TexasProgresive]

1. Good news

This is worthy of wider coverage at DU as in GD and Texas.

The arrest of Ms. Bland was a travesty. What was her real crime, driving while black or was it smoking while black? And way was a TDPS cop patrolling city streets. They don't normally do that in my experience.

[Kind of Blue]

2. TDPS, Texas Department of Public Safety

Appreciate the info. That should come in handy later on in following the investigation and however you can weigh in!

[TexasProgresive]

5. I'm not saying they don't have jurisdiction on city streets

It's just they don't normally patrol them. So that gives them an out but I think this guy was out to make his quota. And in Houston he could ticket 1000s for not using a turn signal when lane changing as no one does there. Houston drivers are some of the meanest. If they sense you need to change lanes they will close the hole up before you can move. So most do not signal, just go.

[Kind of Blue]

7. Gotcha on what is typically

not normal for the the department, if I'm reading you right.

Ms. Geneva Reed-Veal is such a calm lady. I just don't know how she keeps such incredible composure. I wish I could bring her daughter back.

[Starry Messenger]

3. K&R

[Kind of Blue]

9. Yes, thanks, Starry.

So glad Sandra's mom hasn't given up.

[Starry Messenger]

14. I think of my mom, if that happened to me.

I can't imagine thinking of her sitting in a dark room and wondering why and how I died.

[Kind of Blue]

18. I just don't know what's kept

us sane, year in and year out, knowing that some or if not all of that could visit our families.

I remember Sharon Tate's mom, there at every parole hearing making sure none of those fools ever left prison. I know it wasn't a police brutality case but a serious testament to never giving up. She passed away a few years ago and Sharon's sister has taken her place, still young enough, God willing, to outlive them all. The fight for justice can never rest.

[Helen Borg]

4. Yes!

Imagine the pain family and friend are in not knowing for sure what happened to her.

[Kind of Blue]

10. Unfortunately I can imagine it, Helen Borg.

It's excruciating to say the least.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Kick for exposures

And for Sandra Bland!

[Kind of Blue]

11. Thanks, JAG.

[marble falls]

8. Every time I drive to Houson I have to drive through Hempstead and I think about Sandra Bland and...

the officer who arrested her.

They stole her hope, they stole her life.

"...the indictment means nothing to me. Give me a conviction, ..." Indeed.

Lord give us this conviction.

[Kind of Blue]

12. Please, I pray for justice for Sandra, too,

and her family.

Why redact so much in the original release if the department is being truthful? It's sickening. I just hope Ms. Lynch has an eye on this case. The judge is moving along accordingly, thank goodness.

Please keep us updated. I can't imagine driving down that street.

[marble falls]

13. I drive in from the west on 290 and I pass the exit she took that day to drive to the ...

new job at the school she was a graduate of and a brand new employee of and it breaks my heart.

[Kind of Blue]

17. Yeah, we got to ge to the

bottom of this suicide they're claiming. I have to find the article that speculated step by tep how she couldn't have possibly hanged herself. It just makes no sense.

[mountain grammy]

15. "there are some lies going on"

There sure are!

[Kind of Blue]

16. Looking forward to all of

it unraveling!

[sheshe2]

19. Sandra Bland

deserves justice as does her family. I sincerely hope they get it.

Thanks Blue.

[Kind of Blue]

22. Me, too, sheshe2,

so that she did not die just to soothe a cop's fragile eqo. The most I hope for them is peace of mind and she rests in peace.

[sheshe2]

27. Yes.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

20. Thank god for cell phones/cameras and the internet or these instances, which are NOT new, at all

would have less light on them.

[Kind of Blue]

23. Yes, indeed. At least the cases

with camera evidence get processed faster.

Happy to be alive to witness a strong possible way out of this mess of prosecuting psychopaths entering the police force.

[brer cat]

21. Thanks for the update KoB. nt

[Kind of Blue]

24. You're welcome, brer cat!

[Kind of Blue]

25. From Starry Messenger's breaking news

post http://www.democraticunderground.com/118747063 there is a link shedding more light into the investigation of Sandra Bland's death http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-doubts-sandra-bland-death_us_56e30bf1e4b065e2e3d5d601

[WIProgressive88]

26. K&R. Very good news.

[Kind of Blue]

33. Thanks, I'm glad you agree!

[ismnotwasm]

28. K&R

[Kind of Blue]

34. Thanks, ismnotwasm!

[JustAnotherGen]

29. Encinia pleads not guilty

http://m.live5news.com/live5news/pm_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=od:BMzjbijg

Ex-Texas trooper pleads not guilty in Sandra Bland case
Mar 22, 2016 05:45 PM
By JOHN L. MONE
Associated Press

HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) - A fired Texas trooper pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of misdemeanor perjury stemming from his arrest last summer of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was later found dead in a county jail.

Brian Encinia entered his plea during a brief appearance before a Waller County judge as protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Hempstead, about 50 miles northwest of Houston. One held a sign that read: "What happened to Sandra Bland?"

About 20 protesters yelled "Tell the truth" and "Sandra still speaks," and at one point directed their chanting at Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith who stood nearby speaking with reporters. Bland's arrest captured on a police dash-camera video provoked national outrage and drew the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Encinia's attorney, Larkin Eakin, said after Tuesday's arraignment that the perjury charge "represents a fundamental misunderstanding of law enforcement procedures." He said Encinia acted properly during the July 2015 traffic stop and subsequent arrest of Bland.

No worries - one of DU's usual suspects will be along to post a video of teenagers (black girls in particular) fighting in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 . . .

[Kind of Blue]

30. That's good! I'd really like to know why

he made a U-turn, tailed her then charged her for not signalling. I'd really like to hear him refute the Texas Department of Public Safety report saying he violated the traffic stop procedure for improper lane change. I'd really like to hear him refute DPS Director Steve McCraw finding that regardless of the situation he had an obligation to exhibit professionalism and be courteous that did not happen. I'd really like to hear him refute Texas State Senator Royce West saying it’s clear she never should have been arrested.

Yeah, let him fight his own department by putting this case front and center where it should be, instead of paying his miniscule fine and going back to work with dairy products that don't talk back.

Teen age black girls fighting??? I wonder what that has got to do with anything about this case

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Ahh

We have a few usual suspects that whenever a white male or white male police officer does ANYTHING wrong in particular to a black women -

they dodge, deflect, and defer.

They will never ever admit that a black woman could be mistreated or abused. Basically they think we are magical negress brutes.

[Kind of Blue]

32. LOL! "...magical negress brutes"

Bless their tiny cold hearts
Hopefully Encinia will use some of their deflections in court. We see how much good it's done him

[TCJ70]

35. Good.

There needs to be a lot more light shed on this.

[Kind of Blue]

36. Yes, indeed. And it seems

the officer in question will be helping with that, too.

[Blue_Tires]

37. k+r

[Kind of Blue]

38. Thanks, Blue_Tires!