Video of Sandra Bland's arrest ignites firestorm of reactions (Video at link)

CNN.com ^ | July 22, 2015 | Holly Yan and Dana Ford

[Mad Dawgg]

(CNN)Anger over Sandra Bland's death in a Texas jail has boiled over after newly released video showed what happened at the traffic stop that led to her arrest.

Now, many question whether she should have been arrested at all.

The dashcam video shows Texas state Trooper Brian Encinia pulling Bland over July 10 for allegedly failing to use her turn signal. What started as normal conversation gets testy after Encinia asks her to put out her cigarette.

[TXDuke]

She was NOT arrested for resisting arrest. That is a different Penal code charge.

She WAS arrest for assaulting a public servant because SHE chose to fight the cop rather than calmly comply.

[Mad Dawgg]

Yeah and he says it like ten times on the video but OK I guess he just didn’t know what he is talking about...

[TXDuke]

I was just explaining why he may not have intended to arrest her originally, but still cuff her. He may just not have answered at the time because she was fighting him. He was more preoccupied with not getting hurt and gaining control of the situation to answer her. He is not required to answer her at that time. He can answer her as to why she is being arrested after she is cuffed, in the car, and read her Miranda warning. She had no right to fight him just because he didn’t tell her why she was under arrest at that moment.

[greenishness]

I’ve heard her family was planning to bail her out the day after she died.

I don't think bail is required after death.

[dragnet2]

If you give a cop a bad attitude then a lot of times he will look for reasons to cite you. It's pretty simple really.

The attitude of most Americans have towards government, it's agents, hired guns, cops, call them what you will, is no longer sunshine and lollypops. You haven't noticed?

There are reasons for this sea change of attitude.

Just like the cops arrogant ruling class political bosses. The cops need to start treating Americans on the streets like free humans, not enemy in some 3rd world combat zone.

The cop could have easily handled this with just a bit of common sense. Instead of "obey me or else", us VS them attitude. This was a traffic infraction, with a single female involved. Not a felony stop of suspected armed bank robbers or terrorist. And this was pretty obvious to the cop in this incident.

This is not complex. Law enforcement need to come to grips with the fact that Americans are a free people who expect to be treated like free people. Not prisoners of war who will be caged or killed if they fail to immediately comply. That don't work for Americans. They best learn this or their stock will continue to plummet.

[TXDuke]

Most cops, especially those in TX, are Oath Keepers and will be the ones on the front lines to protect you against the tyranny of the feds. Don’t paint all cops with such a broad brush.

Yes, the cop was rude, but that does not excuse her refusing a lawful, valid order and it does not excuse her assaulting the cop. Before automatically hating all cops, try riding out with them and see what they see. Your perspective will most likely change.

[TXDuke]

LOL...I guess that was poorly worded. You got me.

[kaila]

1. It may have been a valid stop, but really a stupid one. Don't waste time on the small stuff.
2.Her history has nothing to do with the current encounter. it cannot even be used in court. She answered in a confident and reasonable manner. In no way did she appear intoxicated.
3.He should not have even asked the question. Really, her attitude had nothing to do with the stop and she was complying ( at that point) .
4.She was polite until he made the unreasonable request to put out her cig. There was nothing up to that point which would cause him to further detain her. He was looking for an opening.
Yes, she was in the wrong refusing to get out of the car. I think he attacked her first. If I was a juror, I would find in her favor.
Cops should learn not to be rude. In the medical world, we deal with rude behavior all the time. If we allowed the behavior to escalate by provocation, there would be a lot more beat up nurses and physicians. Yet, we try to de escalate the situation. Cops should do this, too.
There should be no place for rude cops.
If I was her, I would have done everything just like she did -until he asked me out of the car. I would have complied. I now know to always be in camera range, and I would request that.

[Ditter]

Her belligerence when the officer asked her to step,out of the car and continuing belligerence makes me wonder if she was under the influence of a drug. It could have been a legal drug she had been given for depression, which she had announced that she suffered from.

I received a ticket for running a red light several years ago. The officer didn't ask me to step out of the car but if he had, I would have gotten out.

I ran the red light because a drooling meth head was panhandling right where I had to stop. After he gave me the ticket, I ask him if he saw the panhandler. He said yes, and that he would go pick him up.

[Lil Flower]

>When a police officer stops you for ANY traffic violation (whether or not you AGREE) stop your car, shut up, get out your drivers’ license & hand it to him or her - don’t mouth off, follow orders to extinguish your cigarette, SHUT UP, & don’t mouth ofvf & did I say SHUT UP !!!<

Exactly!!
Because we are just the stupid peasants. And they are the Gestapo, er, I mean Law Enforcement Officers!

Shutup and show me your papers!!

[Captain Peter Blood]

I see people all the time not using turn signals. How many times are people actually pulled over for not using them?

That is such a asinine reason, of course unless it was on a crowded highway and it almost caused a wreck. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Also why did the cop ask her to get out of her car and put out her cigarette? I have been pulled over and never have been asked to get out of the car, they usually take your license and write a ticket, if necessary.

So this begs the question was it racial based by the cop?

[kaila]

I am just waitng for a time when I get pulled over by a cop, and he asks me the question- “where am I going?”
From what I can tell, it is none of their business. I will tell the cop that is a personal question, which does not pertain to this stop. With my i phone video on.
You can be respectful, but cops are not the Gestapo.

[Chgogal]

I agree in general. BUT WARNING TO ALL, when an officer approaches you and he/she is not giving an illegal order, be polite, drop the attitude and follow the LEGAL directions/orders. He/she will go on their merry way and you will be slightly poorer but alive.

[dragnet2]

Most cops, especially those in TX, are Oath Keepers and will be the ones on the front lines to protect you against the tyranny of the feds.

Get real, if this were the case they'd be sending freight trains full of violent criminal illegals out of Texas. Oh,... they can't do that right? Because it's a fed problem right?....Gak

[Chgogal]

It looks like many people have (1) problems with authority and (2) poor manners. Sometimes it leads to death, like in this case.

[TXDuke]

1. You may think it stupid until someone does it and kills a family member. Traffic laws are there for a reason. If you don’t like the law then change it.
2. Her history can’t be used in court, but can be used as reasonable suspicion (not probably cause) on a traffic stop.
3. Actually, he should have asked the question. Questioning people is how cops find out about drug trafficking and other crimes. It is perfectly legal.
4. Based on her history, he had reasonable suspicion, to attempt to smell MJ. However, his request was reasonable and lawful regardless of his reasoning. She was obligated to comply and then complain later to his superiors. Again, if you don’t like the law then change it, but that is the law so you have to follow it.
5. Unlike you, she did not comply. Yes, he may have been rude, but at no time did he attack her first. His rudeness didn’t violate law, but her behavior did.

I’ve also worked in the medical field for years, and there are a lot of rude medical professionals. I’ve seen many doctors & nurses get rude with non-compliant patients or family members.

Tell me what your reaction will be the next time you tell someone to put out a cigarette in a hospital and they refuse. Are you just going to walk away to de-escalate the situation or are you going to continue insisting on compliance because it is the law?? If they still refuse, are you going to call security/cops??? Would your actions be considered rude of you then or are you just doing your job and enforcing the law and hospital policy?? I’ll also bet by that time, you will have lost your polite demeanor too.

[Chgogal]

It is obvious that many Americans, especially from the “Black Lives Matter” crowd have no idea how to handle themselves when they attract the attention of a police officer.

[Chgogal]

Even when you are swimming in the Atlantic off the Florida coast, dragging a few fish behind you the Jack Booters are there. Be polite, follow orders and SHUT UP.

[dragnet2]

It looks like many people have (1) problems with authority

American's live in a free country. When did you figure this out?

Was it not our founders who told us to question and be suspicious of everything the ruling class does or we eventually lose that freedom? History is littered with good governments gone very bad. The planet is covered with graves of people as a result of punitive controlling regimes.

[TXDuke]

Ok, so on one hand you get mad at a cop for following the law because you don’t like the law or his attitude. And on the other hand, you hate cops because they don’t violate the law and enforce illegal immigration. That is kind of foolish and naïve.

Cops in TX can’t deport illegals even if they wanted to. There are no laws supporting that. However, if an illegal is arrested, they are required to deal with the State charge before immigration is even contacted. If an illegal is driving without insurance or a drivers license then his car will be impounded. That is all a cop can do under the law. If you want a cop to have federal immigration enforcement powers then you need to change the laws. Don’t get mad because the cops are forced to follow the laws currently on the books.