TX - Sandra Bland, 28, found dead in jail cell, Waller County, 13 July 2015 #3

[Cubby]

I feel like people are having a great time thinking her family did not care for her. Ll

Respectfully, I think her family may have come to her rescue numerous times in the past and stopped because they knew they were enabling her. Maybe they thought allowing her to stay in jail would help her more to face the consequences of her actions than to come to her rescue -again.

 

[KateB]

I've not seen anything in the press that indicates her family had given up on her. Quite the contrary. Here's one example from July 17:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/17/us/texas-sandra-bland-jail-death/

Bland's sister, Shante Needham, said her sibling called her from jail Saturday. Needham said her sister told her that a trooper had held her down with his knee on her back before her arrest and that she thought she had fractured her arm.

"She was very aggravated," the sister said. "She seemed to be in pain."

Holding back tears, Needham added: "I told her I would work on getting her out."

Lambert said the family was securing the 10% of Bland's $5,000 bail for her release.

Also, has anyone considered the possibility that Sandy was self-medicating her epilepsy with marijuana?
Texas just entered the medicinal marijuana market so those with epilepsy and other chronic diseases no longer have to leave the state to get legal marijuana.
http://www.aol.com/article/2015/06/01/texas-legalizes-medical-marijuana/21189944/

And her levels of post-mortem THC indicate not very high at all for a regular user, especially one that may be self-medicating regularly. So she probably didn't have ingest any during her arrest and incarceration.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/07/30/why-blame-marijuana-for-sandra-blands-death/

A.P. paraphrased University of Florida toxicologist Bruce Goldberger as saying “Bland was impaired by marijuana at the time of her death.” Yet as Goldberger conceded, it is impossible to say how much THC was in Bland’s blood at the time of her death because post-mortem redistribution from fatty tissue may have boosted the concentration. Even if we assume the test results accurately reflect how much THC was in her system when she died, 18 nanograms per milliliter is not very high for a regular user.

Her mental state deteriorated those days in jail and that seems to be a big part of what lawmakers are looking at now.

http://kxan.com/2015/07/30/sandra-blands-arrest-death-takes-stage-at-capitol/

In the video, some of the proposals put forward at the Texas hearing for the issues involving Sandra's arrest and incarceration were:
*New techniques and training to spot mental illness cases that might not be easy to identify.
*Quicker mandatory notifications to magistrates if an inmate is determined to have a clear mental health issue.
*More personal recognizance bonds not requiring money that would enable those arrested to avoid jail time.
*More shared information between state hospitals.
*Increase number of maximum security beds in state hospitals.

Sandra's legacy may still be a work in progress.

 

[arkansasmimi]

The bail amount had not been determined at the point where she called a bondsman and the bondsman called her mother. What amount was the mother supposed to send? JMO

Correct. Sandra saw the judge on Saturday. Per her sister, Sandra spoke to one of her 4 sisters on Saturday. According to this the "sisters" were allegedly going to get So Family and at least one friend knew of bond/bail amount. We don't have who Sandra spoke with or tried to contact on all the calls she made Saturday, as seen on the video released last week. One would think if Sandra knew that someone was coming with $ she wouldn't have committed suicide. And as far as I understand, you can be bonded anytime day or night, weekday or weekend. JMHO

AMY GOODMAN: So, that is Sandy Bland herself, recorded in a voicemail message to her friend. Sharon, she had a $5,000 bond set? And did you understand that weekend what was happening about your sister being in jail? Had you, actually, yourself, talked to her?

SHARON COOPER: I did not, myself, speak with her; however, my older sister spoke with her. She spoke with her roughly at about 1:50 on Saturday afternoon, where she essentially shared the very same thing that you hear in that voicemail. She does say that she was stopped for a failure to signal a lane change and that she had a $5,000 bail, which of course meant that she needed $500 bond. And my sister told her, "Absolutely, I will get with the rest of the sisters and work expeditiously to get you out of there." And she said, "OK, totally understand." And to be honest with you, that voicemail there simply corroborates what’s on the dash cam, which is simply a disbelief that she’s in there with a $5,000 bond for a routine traffic stop.http://www.democracynow.org/2015/7/24/sandra_bland_s_sister_responds_to

 

[kimlynn]

Finally getting to watch the news conference from few days ago without interruption. When SB was taken to the bathroom by Officer Goodie to change into her jail uniform, she was allowed into the bathroom for small amount of time alone. Very possible if she had any marijuana on her or hidden in her body cavity, she could have swallowed it at this time. JMHO
View attachment 79351
[video=youtube;QiSzDEn5-dg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiSzDEn5-dg[/video]

At around 5:14 in the video from your post BE shows off his boo boo on his leg to SB. SB looks as though it's news to her. Maybe first time she heard that she 'kicked' him. IMO

 

[bluesneakers]

In your country, can cops be hired if they have a criminal record?

My country?

eta: I'm American, so I think my country is also your country.

 

[bluesneakers]

Respectfully, I think her family may have come to her rescue numerous times in the past and stopped because they knew they were enabling her. Maybe they thought allowing her to stay in jail would help her more to face the consequences of her actions than to come to her rescue -again.

IMO that is reaching for something and assuming a LOT and the only reason I can think of why a person would come up with something like that is exactly what human said.

JMO.

 

[Confusion]

I don't really think that the problem was that she didn't think anyone was going to bail her out; I think she was just afraid that it would be too late. She had just gotten to town the day before, and she was to start her dream job on Monday. I would guess that she had planned to spend the weekend getting things organized and making sure she was prepared for her first day of work. Instead, she would be getting nothing done over the weekend and would probably lose the job once they found out that her first day scheduled to work was being spent in jail.

From one of the links posted here, I don't remember if it was a video or not, they said the only medication she was given while in there was Tylenol or something similar. If she wasn't getting her Keppra (especially if she had also been self-medicating), she was also probably having some rather bad withdrawal symptoms which can include depression & suicidal ideations. Add in the physical pain, anger, humiliation, being in a different state than the rest of her family, and just plain confusion, and she had to be a very miserable person in there.

 

[arkansasmimi]

The following information applies to individuals who are transferring a valid out of state driver license and/or applying for a new Texas driver license/identification (ID) card.

Transferring an Out of State Driver License to Texas

New Texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas.

Prior to the end of the 90 day grace period, a new Texas resident must apply for a Texas license in person at any driver license office to continue to drive legally. When applying for the new Texas license the individual must surrender any unexpired driver license in their possession from another U.S. state, U.S. territory or a Canadian province. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/driverlicense/movingtotexas.htm

 

[Cubby]

http://www.drugs.com/keppra.html


Apparently feeling suicidal is a side effect of Keppra and it should not be stopped suddenly.

 

[arkansasmimi]

For some reason I just feel that Sandra Bland didn't just arrive in Texas the day prior. JMHO

Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards

Learn more about other documents that must be presented when applying for or renewing a driver license or ID card.

To verify Texas residency, an individual must present two documents from the drop down menu below. Both documents must contain the individual’s name and residential address. One of the documents must verify that the individual has lived in Texas for at least 30 days. This 30 day requirement is waived for individuals who are surrendering a valid, unexpired driver license from another state.
http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/residencyReqNonCDL.htm
Individuals who are unable to provide two acceptable documents may be eligible to complete a Texas Residency Affidavit.

Property inventory shows Both TX and IL Drivers Lic. ... (It also says NO where asks if Driver was responsible for vehicle, so wonder what that means?)

 

[Night-owl]

I don't really think that the problem was that she didn't think anyone was going to bail her out; I think she was just afraid that it would be too late. She had just gotten to town the day before, and she was to start her dream job on Monday. I would guess that she had planned to spend the weekend getting things organized and making sure she was prepared for her first day of work. Instead, she would be getting nothing done over the weekend and would probably lose the job once they found out that her first day scheduled to work was being spent in jail.

From one of the links posted here, I don't remember if it was a video or not, they said the only medication she was given while in there was Tylenol or something similar. If she wasn't getting her Keppra (especially if she had also been self-medicating), she was also probably having some rather bad withdrawal symptoms which can include depression & suicidal ideations. Add in the physical pain, anger, humiliation, being in a different state than the rest of her family, and just plain confusion, and she had to be a very miserable person in there.

I know her family talked a lot about the "dream job". What was described by Prairie View A&M sounds different:

Prairie View spokeswoman Candace Johnson confirmed that Bland was supposed to begin working as a summer program associate for the university cooperative extension Aug. 3. It was a temporary position scheduled to last through Aug. 31, Johnson said.
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-84010990/

Maybe she felt it would lead to something full time and permanent. But to leave for TX from IL for a one month temp position??? [emoji15]

I can't help but think Sandra's life was slipping, and she wasn't being honest with folks how badly. The move to TX seems as much an attempt to return to a place she associated with happier times as much as anything.



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[cady]

My country?

eta: I'm American, so I think my country is also your country.

LOL. But, are you a REAL Murkin? JMO

 

[cady]

RE: Keppra We do not know if she EVER took Keppra. It is mentioned on the med intake questionnaire as what the epilepsy was to be treated with, but she may have said that because it was suggested to her or prescribed for her at some time. I have been prescribed drugs that I have never taken, either for lack of funds, or because I was dissuaded by reading the side effects. I think that if she was taking it regularly, she would have insisted that it be provided....although, probably to deaf ears. JMO

 

[Night-owl]

RE: Keppra We do not know if she EVER took Keppra. It is mentioned on the med intake questionnaire as what the epilepsy was to be treated with, but she may have said that because it was suggested to her or prescribed for her at some time. I have been prescribed drugs that I have never taken, either for lack of funds, or because I was dissuaded by reading the side effects. I think that if she was taking it regularly, she would have insisted that it be provided....although, probably to deaf ears. JMO

It has to be difficult running a jail. Between people who legitimately need medication and people who would just like a bucket of Oxycontin delivered every morning, you're left trying to figure out who is who.

Now that I think of it, one more thing that doesn't add up: in my state, they are pretty fast to yank your license if you've got a seizure disorder. At least you would need something from a doctor saying you're completely controlled with it. And again, family completely unaware of her diagnosis? Something off there.

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[Betty P]

I know her family talked a lot about the "dream job". What was described by Prairie View A&M sounds different:

Prairie View spokeswoman Candace Johnson confirmed that Bland was supposed to begin working as a summer program associate for the university cooperative extension Aug. 3. It was a temporary position scheduled to last through Aug. 31, Johnson said.
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-84010990/

Maybe she felt it would lead to something full time and permanent. But to leave for TX from IL for a one month temp position??? [emoji15]

I can't help but think Sandra's life was slipping, and she wasn't being honest with folks how badly. The move to TX seems as much an attempt to return to a place she associated with happier times as much as anything.



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The unemployment rate for young adults, especially black young adults, is very high. Good jobs are still very difficult to find, especially those in sectors other than food service, etc. Many of these people will even work very long hours in unpaid "internships" in hopes of getting a paid position.

So, the idea of her going to TX even for a paid, temporary job working in the field she wanted to pursue is not unusual these days for her age cohort.

 

[Night-owl]

The unemployment rate for young adults, especially black young adults, is very high. Good jobs are still very difficult to find, especially those in sectors other than food service, etc. Many of these people will even work very long hours in unpaid "internships" in hopes of getting a paid position.

So, the idea of her going to TX even for a paid, temporary job working in the field she wanted to pursue is not unusual these days for her age cohort.

Don't disagree with any of that. There are organizations that only do a temp to perm sort of deal for certain jobs. Some temp positions pay VERY well. And temp jobs are often a good way to network.

To describe a 1 month long temp position as your dream job, to me, seems as if someone it trying to make other people believe things are fine, when they are not.

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[BritsKate]

Our unbreakable bond of sisterhood was enhanced by the fact that we truly were inseparable. We dressed alike, finished each other's sentences with our own language, shared childhood friends, and did everything as one unit. If one of us went somewhere, we all went! Sandy was the light of our family with her beautiful smile, kindhearted demeanor and thoughtfulness. Just before she traveled to Texas, she and my mother set out on a road trip over the Fourth of July weekend, just the two of them. My mother said they had a phenomenal time. The memories from that final road trip, along with strength from God, have provided my mother with solace in the weeks following Sandy's death.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a44215/sandra-bland-sharon-cooper-sister/

Some truly beautiful photos shared by her sister. She goes onto say that her family had raised the bail amount but were waiting to see where to send it. The next phone call they received was notification of Sandy's death. Pretty confident we can dismiss the notion her family had written her off. Hopefully.

Meanwhile, her family is filing a federal lawsuit today in Houston as well.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/04/sandra-bland-family-federal-lawsuit/31094357/

 

[scmom]

Wow, who would have guessed SB's family would file a lawsuit?

 

[Night-owl]

Wow, who would have guessed SB's family would file a lawsuit?

I think I saw that coming. [emoji10]

Seriously, I think they have a valid case with the police. And a better case with the jail. The info coming out of the jail strongly suggests that things were not run properly.

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[bluesneakers]

Wow, who would have guessed SB's family would file a lawsuit?

If my daughter were the victim of an abusive officer and a negligent jail system I would do the same. I would expect any parent to do the same.