Sandra Bland Arrest Video: Texas Authorities Say Dashcam Video Was Not Intentionally Edited [Video]
After releasing video footage of the Sandra Bland's arrest, Texas officials stated that the glitches in the video were caused by technical malfunction and not intentional editing.
The dashcam video showed the events that took place when Bland was pulled over and arrested in Texas for a traffic violation on Friday, July 10, reports USA Today. She was then taken to the Waller County Jail, where she spent the weekend. However, three days later, the 28-year-old Prairie View A&M graduate was found hanged in her cell.
Although the Harris County's medical examiner ruled the death as a suicide, the victim's family disputes that she was suicidal and would purposely harm herself.
On Tuesday, authorities released video of the black woman interacting with state trooper Brian Encinia. In the video, Bland expressed frustration for being pulled over after she failed to signal during a lane change. She tells the white officer that she was changing lanes in order to get out of his way.
The trooper asked her to put out her cigarette; however she said it was her right to smoke within her own car. That's when Encinia proceeded to tell her to get out of the vehicle. In response, Bland questioned why he was forcing her out of the vehicle. The trooper did not respond and instead threatened to Taser her.
"Step out, or I will remove you," Encinia said repeatedly, while opening the driver's door.
"OK, let's do this," Bland is heard saying, as Encinia reached in and grabbed her. "Don't touch me!"
"I'm going to drag you out of here," Encinia said. "Get out of the car! I will light you up!" he shouted in anger while pointing a Taser at her.
Bland then got out, saying, "Wow, wow, all of this for a failure to signal."
At other points in the video, Bland can be heard saying the officer slammed her head in the ground and that her handcuffs were too tight.
There were also several points where the video repeats itself or appears to be cut, while the audio continues to play without any interruption. None of the irregularities in the video, however, appear during the time she was being arrested.
Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, blamed a "technical issue during posting." He added the department was working to correct the video, reports NBC News.
The trooper has since been placed on administrative leave. According to Steven McCraw, the director of the Department of Public Safety, the trooper did not comply with procedure, including failing to let Bland know what action he planned to take and failing to be courteous and professional.
Watch Bland's arrest video below.
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