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Officer Who Pulled Over Sandra Bland Officially Charged With Perjury

by Gillian Fuller

Brian Encinia, the Texas Department of Public Safety trooper made infamous in the viral Sandra Bland arrest video, was found guilty of perjury on Wednesday.

Encinia was widely criticized for his conduct after the video surfaced, with protesters claiming the officer used unnecessary force in Bland's arrest. The video shows Encinia dragging Bland from her car and slamming her head on the ground, responding “good” when she warns him of her epilepsy.

Prior to the video's release, Encinia had maintained Bland assaulted him; the dashcam footage, however, indicates otherwise and proves Encinia lied in his original statement.

A Texas grand jury formally indicted Encinia of perjury, a misdemeanor which carries a $4,000 fine and up to a year in jail. The Texas Department of Public Safety also confirmed Encinia's termination.

Though the state has not filed charges against the department in relation to Bland's suicide, her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Waller County. That trial is set to begin next year.

Citations: Officer Who Arrested Sandra Bland Charged For Lying In His Police Report (ThinkProgress)