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Sandra Bland's family files lawsuit against trooper, 'others responsible'

By Andrew V. Pestano
Sandra Bland was found dead in her Texas jail cell July 13 following her arrest three days before. Officials said she hanged herself, but her family does not believe she would do such a thing. Photo: Sandra Bland/Facebook
Sandra Bland was found dead in her Texas jail cell July 13 following her arrest three days before. Officials said she hanged herself, but her family does not believe she would do such a thing. Photo: Sandra Bland/Facebook

HEMPSTEAD, Texas, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The family of Sandra Bland, the woman found dead in a Texas jail cell days after a controversial traffic stop, will file a lawsuit at a federal courthouse in Houston on Tuesday.

Trooper Brian Encinia "and others responsible for the death of Sandra Bland" will be the subjects of the lawsuit, according to USA Today.

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Bland was found hanging in her jail cell in Hempstead with a plastic trash bag around her neck on July 13. She had been arrested by Encinia three days earlier after being stopped for failure to signal a lane change and becoming combative, according to police.

Dashboard video footage from Encinia's patrol car shows the interaction between the two, although the moment when Encinia said Bland kicked him is not visible.

Jail officials said Bland committed suicide, but many of Bland's family, friends and others on social media worldwide have questioned that explanation.

Encinia was put on desk duty for violating procedures during the stop.

Waller County officials previously released hours of video of Bland inside the jail to try to disprove claims of foul play.

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Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said his office will look at the original arrest to determine if the trooper's actions were appropriate and to examine Bland's death in her cell.

"There are many lingering questions in the Sandra Bland case," Mathis said, adding he will get answers in a "timely and appropriate manner."

Mathis also previously released an initial toxicology report with findings that show Bland, 28, had marijuana in her system at the time of her death. Last week, the results of her autopsy showed there was no evidence of violent homicide.

Amy R. Connolly contributed to this report.

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