TX - Sandra Bland, 28, found dead in jail cell, Waller County, 13 July 2015 #1

[bessie]

Here we go again. From the front page. Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community Welcome to the Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community. Can you point me to anything that says this is a law enforcement support site, or anything that says we can't or shouldn't sleuth law enforcement?

It's not expressly stated in the rules, but WS is a "LE friendly" site. That is not to say that we cannot discuss the facts of a case where an individual LEO's conduct is in question, or express an unfavorable opinion based on the known facts. To denigrate, or "bash", LE in general, however, is considered unacceptable. By the same token, offensive comments based on race, gender, culture, and religion also are not allowed. And that is stated in The Rules.

Threats, Racism & Sexism:
Threads or posts promoting or expressing intolerant views towards groups based on their characteristics (such as race, religion, sexual preference, etc.) will not be tolerated.

I'd suggest everyone take heed, because the mod team's patience is wearing thin where this thread is concerned, and it won't be long before some will find themselves on the outside looking in.

Just a fair warning for the benefit of all, and for no one in particular.

 

[KateB]

Sandra Bland: video released from inside county jail leading up to hanging
African American woman, 28, died in custody three days after Texas traffic stop in which supporters say dashcam images show trooper was agitated
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/20/sandra-bland-arrested-officer-annoyed-smoking

An FBI spokeswoman, Shauna Dunlap, said: “We are monitoring the ongoing local investigation. Once the local process takes its course the FBI will review all of the evidence to determine if any federal criminal laws may have been violated.”

Bland, a racial justice activist, had newly arrived in Texas from Chicago for a job interview at Prairie View A&M University, her alma mater, where a vigil was held in her memory on Sunday.

She got the job. Family and friends have said she had no reason to end her life, though she talked about feeling depressed in a Facebook post several months earlier. Bryant said she “turned the corner … just got a job opportunity and was excited about life”.

The side bar on this article links to a database kept by the Guardian of an alarming statistic that I'm hard pressed to find in US media, with the exception of Cato Institute's National Police Misconduct Reporting Project, of course.
Guardian's "The Counted - People killed by police in the US" - 644 calendar year to date.

Sandra may not have been killed by police but I do believe she'd be alive had Officer Encinia not threatened to 'light her up' with a taser for failure to obey during the traffic stop for her turn signal violation changing lanes to yield the right of way to law enforcement.
MOO

 

[cady]

We don't know if a crime has been committed, do we?

Correct. We do not know. Suspicious circumstances have generated an investigation for the purpose of finding out whether or not a crime has been committed. On the surface, it appears that SB committed suicide. If so, how did that happen? JMO

 

[Elley Mae]

In an apparent voicemail Bland left for a friend, obtained by Houston station KTRK, Bland also seemed frustrated to be behind bars, reports CBS News' Omar Villafranca.


"They got me set at a $5,000 bond. I'm just still at a loss for words about this whole process, how this switching lanes with no signal turned into all of this, I don't even know," Bland apparently said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandra-...death-apparent-voicemail-reveals-frustration/

Meanwhile, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis told CBS News that reports he ordered a new autopsy are not true.
However, he's asked that Bland's body be preserved after a toxicology report revealed a substantial amount of marijuana in her system at the time of her death.


He added, "This false information (about the request for the new autopsy) arises from new evidence revealed today that Ms. Bland had a substantial amount of marijuana in her system at the time of her death.

 

[KaaBoom]

Being LE is 'one of the safest jobs in America?' oh, ok...any links?

Here you go. Click on it to see the source article. BTW more LEOs are killed in traffic accidents then from murder. Thats where most of their danger comes from.

 

[human]

OMG! Thank you for the link Katy.

Imo, no other profession is assaulted an average of 58,930 times and sustains 15, 404 injuries every year. That is mind boggling.

I wonder how many assaults teachers, nurses, and doctors suffer?

 

[katydid23]

Sandra Bland: video released from inside county jail leading up to hanging
African American woman, 28, died in custody three days after Texas traffic stop in which supporters say dashcam images show trooper was agitated
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/20/sandra-bland-arrested-officer-annoyed-smoking

The side bar on this article links to a database kept by the Guardian of an alarming statistic that I'm hard pressed to find in US media, with the exception of Cato Institute's National Police Misconduct Reporting Project, of course.
Guardian's "The Counted - People killed by police in the US" - 644 calendar year to date.

Sandra may not have been killed by police but I do believe she'd be alive had Officer Encinia not threatened to 'light her up' with a taser for failure to obey during the traffic stop for her turn signal violation changing lanes to yield the right of way to law enforcement.
MOO

Of those 644 people killed by police---how many were shooting at the cops, or fleeing from a violent crime, or assaulting someone? I think that number needs some context. Maybe it is obvious that I am the mother of a LEO. But it does hurt my heart to see statistics like that thrown out there, with no explanation of the circumstances. :cop:

 

[cady]

Why would they release her body to the family for burial BEFORE the toxicology results came to light? JMO........and....wouldn't tissue samples be taken at the time of the complete autopsy?

 

[human]

Older statistics for teachers assaulted

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/bul...-teachers-physically-attacked-students-276700

 

[Trident]

Of those 644 people killed by police---how many were shooting at the cops, or fleeing from a violent crime, or assaulting someone? I think that number needs some context. Maybe it is obvious that I am the mother of a LEO. But it does hurt my heart to see statistics like that thrown out there, with no explanation of the circumstances. :cop:

You bring up a very good point - thank you just wasn't enough.

 

[human]

Assaults on doctors

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2010/03/when_patients_attack.html

 

[katydid23]

Here you go. Click on it to see the source article. BTW more LEOs are killed in traffic accidents then from murder. Thats where most of their danger comes from.

I never said they had the 'deadliest' job. But they do have a dangerous and stressful job. They are assaulted and threatened at a very high rate. But since they are allowed to respond forcefully, if someone dies, it will not usually be them.

 

[Dénouement]

Some of them could easily be different because it is a two-step process. First the 'guest' fills out the questionnaire by hand. Then a few hours later they meet with a mental health counselor and they discuss the questions as it is entered in the computer. Not a surprise that some answers may change during the process.

Would it have to be filled out by an officer or her hand?

The check marks are consistent throughout the document. There is also a staff observation section. Her signature is on this link http://documents.latimes.com/booking-documents-sandra-bland/

 

[Nana]

In an apparent voicemail Bland left for a friend, obtained by Houston station KTRK, Bland also seemed frustrated to be behind bars, reports CBS News' Omar Villafranca.


"They got me set at a $5,000 bond. I'm just still at a loss for words about this whole process, how this switching lanes with no signal turned into all of this, I don't even know," Bland apparently said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandra-...death-apparent-voicemail-reveals-frustration/

Meanwhile, Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis told CBS News that reports he ordered a new autopsy are not true.
However, he's asked that Bland's body be preserved after a toxicology report revealed a substantial amount of marijuana in her system at the time of her death.


He added, "This false information (about the request for the new autopsy) arises from new evidence revealed today that Ms. Bland had a substantial amount of marijuana in her system at the time of her death.

Wow and three days later.

 

[KateB]

Of those 644 people killed by police---how many were shooting at the cops, or fleeing from a violent crime, or assaulting someone? I think that number needs some context. Maybe it is obvious that I am the mother of a LEO. But it does hurt my heart to see statistics like that thrown out there, with no explanation of the circumstances. :cop:

I agree, and the statistic that would be most revealing is how many of the victims were unarmed. That number grows daily and I'm grateful that the lawful law enforcement officers are still in the majority. I'm also grateful for the FBI and the Texas Rangers for investigating this horrible example of a peace officer.
MOO

 

[katydid23]

Assaults on doctors

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2010/03/when_patients_attack.html

The last report from the Department of Justice put the number of doctors assaulted at about 71,000 from 1993 to 1999.

[That is way less than the officers being assaulted. 10, 000 doctors per yr vs 158,000 LEOS per yr assaulted]

 

[Elley Mae]

The Most Dangerous Government Jobs and Why They're Riskier Than the Private Sector


http://www.governing.com/topics/mgm...r-governments-higher-than-private-sector.html

 

[katydid23]

I agree, and the statistic that would be most revealing is how many of the victims were unarmed. That number grows daily and I'm grateful that the lawful law enforcement officers are still in the majority. I'm also grateful for the FBI and the Texas Rangers for investigating this horrible example of a peace officer.
MOO

Just because someone is unarmed it does not mean they are not a deadly threat. There have been many LEOS killed or severely injured by unarmed perps.

I think the most revealing statistic would be how many are found to be unjustified. I have no link at the moment, but have seen some that put it to be a very low percentage in the end.

 

[katydid23]

Would it have to be filled out by an officer or her hand?

The check marks are consistent throughout the document. There is also a staff observation section. Her signature is on this link http://documents.latimes.com/booking-documents-sandra-bland/

On CNN they said she filled it out by hand, then the counselor discusses it with her and inputs it into the computer.

 

[Dénouement]

On CNN they said she filled it out by hand, then the counselor discusses it with her and inputs it into the computer.

Have any other sources mentioned that? I then wonder why she would have filled out the 'staff observations' section.

Is a document such as this signed? Was the full document shown?

Another thing why on the typed form does it say she attempted suicide on the suicide assessment then at the bottom for the intake questionnaire it says regarding attempted suicide 'No'