The Texas Department of Safety on Tuesday released dashcam video that shows a Texas state trooper arrest Sandra Bland, an Illinois native who was found dead in a jail cell three days later.
Brian Encinia, the officer who arrested Bland after a confrontation in her car, has been placed on administrative duty as the department investigates, DPS Director Steve McCraw said in a news conference.
In an affidavit, Encinia said he then used force "to subdue Bland to the ground," and she continued to fight back after she became combative and swung her elbows and kicked at him.
In the video, the trooper remarks that Bland, 28, seemed irritated after he hands her a ticket. Bland said she was irritated because she was ticketed after changing lanes to get out of the path of the trooper's car.
Words are exchanged, including the trooper's request that Bland put out a cigarette. Bland said she can smoke in her own car. The trooper then orders her to step out of her car.
Bland refused and the trooper told her she was under arrest. Further refusals brought the trooper's threat to "drag" her from the car. He then pulled out what appeared to be a weapon and said, "I will light you up."
When she stepped out, the trooper ordered her to the side of the road. There, the confrontation continues off camera but is still audible.
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Three days after her arrest Bland was found hanging in her jail cell.
Bland should not have been arrested in the first place, Texas politicians, including Texas Sen. Royce West, said at a news conference Tuesday.
The Waller County District Attorney's office is investigating Bland's arrest and death, and West said officials asked the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice to investigate as well.
