The law enforcement officer at the center of the Sandra Bland death investigation was once warned about "unprofessional conduct" during a 2014 incident while he was still on probation.

The Associated Press reports Texas trooper Brian Encinia "was given a written counseling for unprofessional conduct ... for an incident occurring while at a school in Austin" during an evaluation period that spanned from September to October of 2014. The evaluation goes on to add, "In the future, Trooper Encinia should conduct himself at all times in a manner that will reflect well upon himself, the Department, and the State of Texas."

Overall, Encinia's personal history file is described as "unremarkable," with the officer receiving "competent" ratings in all the evaluations that were made public.

The 28-year-old Bland was found hanging, dead in her Waller County jail cell three days after being taken into custody following a traffic stop made by Encinia about 200 miles outside of Dallas on July 13. During a recording of that traffic stop, Encinia can be heard threatening to "light" Bland up while holding a taser directed towards her.

Authorities said Bland committed suicide, using a plastic bag to hang herself, but family members have openly questioned officials' version of events -- arguing Bland was in Texas to start a new job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M.

NBC reported that jail intake forms released by authorities showed Bland had answered "yes" to questions over whether Bland had attempted suicide in the past, but noted her answer in another intake form did not match. However, the two conflicting forms both included the question, "Are you thinking about killing yourself today?" both of which were marked "no."

Steve McCraw, director of the Department of Public Safety, is already on record admitting that Encinia violated internal policies of professionalism and courtesy during the Bland stop. In addition, dashcam video shows the confrontation between him and Bland quickly escalating out of control. Encinia pulled out his stun gun after she objected to being told to put out her cigarette.

Bland's death comes amid a period of heightened national scrutiny of police and their dealings with black suspects, particularly those who have been killed at the hands of officers or died while in police custody.

The killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by then officer Darren Wilson and the still mysterious death of Freddie Gray while in police custody in Baltimore set off protests all across the country.