Update (7/22 5:41 pm): Police have now released reports indicating that Sandra Bland tried to commit suicide in the months leading up to her arrest. This information was shared in a meeting with elected officials and law enforcement yesterday just before dashcam footage was made public. According to police, Bland disclosed her prior suicide attempt on an intake form at the time of her imprisonment. Local representatives say that Bland tried to end her life after losing a baby. Despite this news development, those who were with Bland when she was in police custody are being criticized for not providing better support and supervision given the information Bland offered on the form.
The Texas Department of Public Safety was also under fire today for apparently making edits to the dashcam footage of Sandra Bland’s infamous arrest. Filmmaker Ben Norton highlighted various points of the footage that depict interrupted and looped frames where passing cars vanish into the air or reappear at odd moments. There is also a shot where a man leaving a truck parked in front of Bland’s car exits his vehicle and walks down the street twice, back-to-back.
Norton points out the edits showing the disappearing car here:
Norton also shows the doctored frames of the man leaving his vehicle here:
No one knows exactly who is behind the sloppy edits but according to NBC News, the Texas DPS is investigating the issue. Ava DuVernay, the renowned movie director, backed up Norton’s claims, tweeting:
https://twitter.com/AVAETC/status/623683526001438720
On top of the mysterious factors surrounding Bland’s death while in police custody, this just made things considerably worse for the Texas DPS amid the murder investigation and FBI probe on Bland’s case. The officer in the video, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia, is currently on administrative duties after it was found that he violated procedure while detaining Bland.
RELATED LINKS:
Sandra Bland’s Case Being Treated As A Murder Investigation, New Videos Released
Sandra Bland’s Family Demands Independent Autopsy After FBI Launches Investigation On Prison Death
#IfIDieInPoliceCustody: Heartbreaking Hashtag Goes Viral After Sandra Bland’s Mysterious Death
