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Sandra Bland’s Family Calls for Criminal Charges Against Trooper Encinia

HeadlineDec 23, 2015

In Chicago, the family of Sandra Bland has called for criminal charges against Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia, who violently arrested the 28-year-old African-American woman after accusing her of failing to signal a lane change on July 10. Bland was found dead in a Waller County jail cell three days later. Her family and supporters have disputed authorities’ claim her death was a suicide. Dash cam footage from the arrest shows Encinia forcibly removing Bland from her car and threatening to “light [her] up.” The family’s call for criminal charges comes one day after a grand jury said it would not issue any indictments in connection with Bland’s death inside the jail cell. Although the prison officers won’t face charges, Officer Encinia could still be indicted when the grand jury reconvenes next month. We’ll have more on the case with Sandra Bland’s family and their lawyer after headlines.

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