Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old Naperville, Ill. woman that was found dead last Monday (July 13) in a Texas cell has been the subject of scrutiny and public outrage. Bland’s mysterious death was ruled a suicide which has many in disbelief, and new details in the case have been revealed since last week.
Bland, who was pulled over in Waller County, Texas on July 10, was in the state to begin a newly obtained job at her alma mater. Texas Prairie View A&M University. As has been reported, Bland was pulled over for a routine traffic stop for a lane violation which ended up as a verbally intense confrontation and her arrest face first into the ground. Bland called out at the officer for his rough handling of her before she was whisked away.
While video of the arrest taken by a bystander doesn’t reveal the entire arrest process, Bland can be heard on the clip in argument with the arresting officer. After being placed in a county jail for the weekend, Bland was found dead last Monday morning shortly after having breakfast.
The latest details related to Bland’s case are still developing. Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith told ABC News that Bland was arrested for being “combative” although that cannot be confirmed at this time. What has also been difficult to confirm is Sheriff Smith’s employment past and claims of him being racist and engaging in police brutality.
Texas reporter Isiah Carey and local outlets report that Smith was fired in 2008 by the Hempstead City Council being allegations police misconduct and it appears not all situations were racially motivated. The Houston Chronicle, however, suggested that Smith had a poor attitude towards African-Americans as noted by a case where he was especially harsh on one man and used profanity towards him.
Witnesses of the Bland arrest have offered a series of viewpoints regarding the incident. Two witnesses, including a friend of Bland’s, say that the police officer was aggressive with her from the onset. Another witness said Bland was smoking a cigarette and did not stop after the officer approached her vehicle. All visual accounts seem to suggest that the officer sought to restrain Bland in a physical manner.
Elton Mathis, Waller County district attorney, said that Bland used a trash bag to commit the so-called suicide. Bags are given to inmates for their privacy, and officials are claiming that Bland hung herself from a partition in her cell. A Harris County medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Bland supporters maintain that she wouldn’t have performed such and act.
Adding to the mystery was that Bland was slated to start the job on Wednesday, according to the family, although the university said her start date was actually later. There have also been reports that Bland claimed to have suffered from PTSD, but that is another in a long line of unsubstantiated details.
The FBI and the Texas State Rangers are continuing to investigate the matter.
[h/t CS Monitor]
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