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- [Kalyn] Hi, my name is Kalyn Womack

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and I'm a staff writer at The Root.

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This weekend, I'm taking
you to Waller County, Texas

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to explore the story of
Sandra Bland's suicide

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on this episode of Small Town Horrors.

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28-year-old Sandra Bland

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was followed by Texas State
Trooper Brian Encinia,

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July 10, 2015.

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Upon noticing the police officer

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accelerate closer to her rear,

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she switched lanes but
Encinia pulled her over

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for failing to signal the lane change.

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A 51-minute dash camera video
showed the heated interaction

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between Bland and the officer.

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Encinia told Bland she appeared irritated,

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to which she responded
that she was annoyed

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because he tailed her and pulled her over.

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- Get out of the car!

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I will light you up.

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Get out!
- Wow!

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- Now!

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- Wow!

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- [Kalyn] The officer then asked her

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to put out her cigarette
and step out of the car,

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which she refused to do while
asking for a reason why.

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After this point, things escalated.

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Encinia began yelling at
Bland to get out of her car

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and threatened to yank her
out while drawing his taser.

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He then grabbed Bland and
pushed her into the ground

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as she complained that he was hurting her.

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She was taken to Waller County Jail.

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However, three days after she was booked,

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she was found hanging from
a plastic bag in her cell.

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Bland's family and friends

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immediately speculated the
conclusion of Bland's autopsy

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that she died by suicide.

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They insisted she was in great spirits

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around the time of her arrest,

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given she was pulled over

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while on her way to her
new job at her alma mater.

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However, authorities say
during her intake interview,

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she mentioned that she attempted suicide

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after the loss of her baby a year prior.

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Theories that Bland was killed
by the detention officers

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became more intense

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as the public speculated that
she was dead in her mugshot,

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claiming her eyelids
may have been taped open

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and the position of her neck and shoulders

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looked as though she
was lying on the ground.

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Bland's death resulted in a $1.9 million

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wrongful death lawsuit settlement.

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A grand jury refused to indict anyone

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in connection to Bland's death

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but Encinia was charged with perjury

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and fired by the DPS in 2016.

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He turned himself in to the
same jail where Bland died.

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Tune in next weekend to
see which small town horror

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we visit next at TheRoot.com.