Cell Phone Video Of Sandra Bland Arrest Surfaces

The arrest and subsequent death of Sandra Bland in a Waller County, Texas jail  garnered national attention and headlines back in 2015. Newly released cellphone video of her infamous arrest has now raised more questions about the department's actions.

According to an investigation done by WFAA and The Investigative Network, the new video fuels the Bland family’s suspicions that Texas officials withheld evidence in her controversial arrest and, later, her death.

Until now, the trooper’s dashcam footage was believed to be the only full recording of the July 2015 traffic stop, which ended in Bland’s arrest. The DPS trooper Brian Encina, claimed he feared for his safety during the stop. Bland, 28, was found dead three days later in her Waller County jail cell near Houston. Her death was ruled a suicide.

Bland's family say they never saw the video, and their attorney says it was never presented as evidence. DPS officials say it was submitted, and it is “unclear what arrangements, if any, were made by the plaintiffs to view the video.”

Encina was fired from the DPS and indicted by a grand jury for perjury, a charge that was later dropped when Encinia gave up his license and agreed to never work as a cop again. No Waller County lawmen were indicted in connection with her jail cell death.

The Texas Rangers and Federal Bureau of Investigation searched Bland’s phone during their joint investigation and discovered her video two months after the traffic stop and her death. But Bland’s family says it was never given to them.

They filed a federal wrongful death suit against Waller County and Texas DPS. The suit was settled in 2016 for $1.9 million.