Woman moves from Illinois to Texas and ends up dead in jail cell

[Anonymous]

What happened to this woman?
http://abc7chicago.com/news/road-trip-for-suburban-woman-ends-in-jailhouse-death/853139/
Wednesday, July 15, 2015 11:05PM
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Newly obtained video shows the arrest of 28-year-old Sandra Bland, a Naperville woman whose death at a Texas jail is being angrily questioned by her friends and relatives.

Sandra Bland was found dead in a Waller County, Texas, jail cell on Monday at 9 a.m. after being arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer during a routine traffic stop, the I-Team has learned. Authorities say her death appears to be suicide.

In numerous emails and phone calls to the ABC7 I-Team, her friends and relatives say they do not believe the official version of what happened and say this is a case of foul play in a county with a history racial intolerance.

Now, the I-Team has obtained video of Bland's arrest. The video shows police on top of Bland, who is on the ground with several officers restraining her as she questions why they are being so rough. The video was shot by a bystander Friday morning, three days before she died in police custody.

Bland was pulled over Friday for improper signaling a lane change, according to Waller County Sheriff's Department officials. They say she was charged with "Assault on a Public Servant" and taken into custody by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper.

"After he pulled her out of the car, forced her and tossed her to the ground, knee to the neck, and arrested her," says her friend Malcom Jackson.

[ Edited by Admin to comply with copyright laws. ]

[Anonymous]

Sad, and how is this a suicide when she moved there for a new job.

This aren't adding up. And why so much force towards a women.

[Anonymous]

I wonder what "combative" means to Yosemite Sam there. And yeah, you should signal a turn, but really, is that worth pulling people over? Seems like a smokescreen to me.

[Anonymous]

Police brutality definitely needs to be seriously and independently investigated (so much risk of cover-up), and it's good the state police have taken over.

I moved from the Chicago suburbs to Texas about a year and a half ago. Kind of an interesting title - I don't really know what the move/locations have to do with it. I guess just makes it a little more intriguing and the fact that she was outside of her normal area/family/friends makes it feel more scary.

I just watched A Death in St. Augustine last night. That one was in Florida (and happened at a private home of an officer for the Sheriff's Dept, ruled as suicide). Another case - Molly Young in Carbondale, Illinois - boyfriend was a dispatcher for the police department, ruled a suicide. Not the same as this case but there are lots of cases all over like this. I'd be scared to date a cop, to be frank.

[Anonymous]

Really sad she probably just thought her life was over after being arrested. I would kill myself too if I ever get arrested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Police brutality definitely needs to be seriously and independently investigated (so much risk of cover-up), and it's good the state police have taken over.

I moved from the Chicago suburbs to Texas about a year and a half ago. Kind of an interesting title - I don't really know what the move/locations have to do with it. I guess just makes it a little more intriguing and the fact that she was outside of her normal area/family/friends makes it feel more scary.

I just watched A Death in St. Augustine last night. That one was in Florida (and happened at a private home of an officer for the Sheriff's Dept, ruled as suicide). Another case - Molly Young in Carbondale, Illinois - boyfriend was a dispatcher for the police department, ruled a suicide. Not the same as this case but there are lots of cases all over like this. I'd be scared to date a cop, to be frank.

OP -- the move is relevant because the Texas cops are saying she committed suicide. Why would someone accept a new job, drive across country and then kill herself.
So, yeah, that is relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP -- the move is relevant because the Texas cops are saying she committed suicide. Why would someone accept a new job, drive across country and then kill herself.
So, yeah, that is relevant.

Fair enough. I do agree the suicide seems very suspect. Why would she kill herself, and HOW would she hang herself??? Did they give her shoes with shoelaces in them?? At a bare minimum, it seems like negligence and at the worst homicide.

Boy, the county/sheriff/attorney sure do look pretty backwoods, don't they? That attorney clearly is in over his head.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious to know if she had called family while she was arrested (sounded like she was in custody for 3 days? seems odd not to be bailed out for something like that). There are so many details missing in the story it's hard to judge, but I understand why it looks suspect. At this point I think it would be best for both sides to say "Something isn't right about this situation - we need to investigate further" rather than some of the accusations both sides are throwing.

Her poor family!

[Anonymous]

There is a change.org petition aimed at getting the Justice Dept. involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really sad she probably just thought her life was over after being arrested. I would kill myself too if I ever get arrested.

She and I share some friends/acquaintances and folks are unanimous and forceful in saying she would not commit suicide. I know a lot of folks say that, but everyone seems quite certain and I'm inclined to believe them given how sure they are and how badly they clearly want an independent investigation.

[Anonymous]

I'm also curious if her family was contacted while she was in custody. I hope her family requests an independent autopsy. Something is not right with this story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really sad she probably just thought her life was over after being arrested. I would kill myself too if I ever get arrested.

Um. No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police brutality definitely needs to be seriously and independently investigated (so much risk of cover-up), and it's good the state police have taken over.

I moved from the Chicago suburbs to Texas about a year and a half ago. Kind of an interesting title - I don't really know what the move/locations have to do with it. I guess just makes it a little more intriguing and the fact that she was outside of her normal area/family/friends makes it feel more scary.

I just watched A Death in St. Augustine last night. That one was in Florida (and happened at a private home of an officer for the Sheriff's Dept, ruled as suicide). Another case - Molly Young in Carbondale, Illinois - boyfriend was a dispatcher for the police department, ruled a suicide. Not the same as this case but there are lots of cases all over like this. I'd be scared to date a cop, to be frank.

OP -- the move is relevant because the Texas cops are saying she committed suicide. Why would someone accept a new job, drive across country and then kill herself.
So, yeah, that is relevant.

Just to play devils advocate but the fact that she got arrested would very likely have led to her losing that new job. And would potentially make securing other jobs quite Difficult. So I CAN see how someone could be driven to the edge if they wee already close to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police brutality definitely needs to be seriously and independently investigated (so much risk of cover-up), and it's good the state police have taken over.

I moved from the Chicago suburbs to Texas about a year and a half ago. Kind of an interesting title - I don't really know what the move/locations have to do with it. I guess just makes it a little more intriguing and the fact that she was outside of her normal area/family/friends makes it feel more scary.

I just watched A Death in St. Augustine last night. That one was in Florida (and happened at a private home of an officer for the Sheriff's Dept, ruled as suicide). Another case - Molly Young in Carbondale, Illinois - boyfriend was a dispatcher for the police department, ruled a suicide. Not the same as this case but there are lots of cases all over like this. I'd be scared to date a cop, to be frank.

OP -- the move is relevant because the Texas cops are saying she committed suicide. Why would someone accept a new job, drive across country and then kill herself.
So, yeah, that is relevant.

Just to play devils advocate but the fact that she got arrested would very likely have led to her losing that new job. And would potentially make securing other jobs quite Difficult. So I CAN see how someone could be driven to the edge if they wee already close to it.

....except this woman worked in social justice, so with folks who would absolutely understand how a Black woman could find herself arrested on nonexistent or trumped up charges. I could see this argument in another field, but I am positive that this would not have been a deal breaker in this particular situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Police brutality definitely needs to be seriously and independently investigated (so much risk of cover-up), and it's good the state police have taken over.

I moved from the Chicago suburbs to Texas about a year and a half ago. Kind of an interesting title - I don't really know what the move/locations have to do with it. I guess just makes it a little more intriguing and the fact that she was outside of her normal area/family/friends makes it feel more scary.

I just watched A Death in St. Augustine last night. That one was in Florida (and happened at a private home of an officer for the Sheriff's Dept, ruled as suicide). Another case - Molly Young in Carbondale, Illinois - boyfriend was a dispatcher for the police department, ruled a suicide. Not the same as this case but there are lots of cases all over like this. I'd be scared to date a cop, to be frank.

OP -- the move is relevant because the Texas cops are saying she committed suicide. Why would someone accept a new job, drive across country and then kill herself.
So, yeah, that is relevant.

Just to play devils advocate but the fact that she got arrested would very likely have led to her losing that new job. And would potentially make securing other jobs quite Difficult. So I CAN see how someone could be driven to the edge if they wee already close to it.

The stretch in your logic spans from Chicago to Texas!!