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]

Try doing that in TX and you’ll be sitting there for a while because normal people will answer that question unless they have attitudes or are trying to hide something. That is standard question to determine if you could possibly be a drug trafficker. If refuse to answer then you will continue being detained until the cop can complete a full history/background check on you. He will also probably order you to step out of the car.

Remember, respect is earned and respect begets respect. If you have attitude then don’t be surprised if the cop returns the favor. You’re not required to be respectful, but neither is the cop according to the law.

[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

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.

There ya go folks....

[Chgogal]

I agree with you somewhat, BUT she helped escalate the traffic stop as well. You never know what kind of day an officer is having. It is never wise to piss off anyone who is carrying a gun. Many people have very poor manners that escalate all kinds of situations. That said, the officer does not win any kudos from me.

My way of handling a tense situation, “How can I help you help me?” said in a very nice way with a smile on the mouth and in the eyes. That phrase works wonders for me.

[TXDuke]

We also live in a nation of laws. You don’t have to respect the enforcers of the laws, but you do have to respect the law. Too many people want the law to apply to everyone else, but not them.

[kaila]

1. This was not a situation in which she was in heavy traffic, and a lane change without a signal would cause an accident. There was no traffic.
2. He went overboard on the reasonable suspicion after the discussion started, as she was not intoxicated. That is obvious.
3.He has no right to ask the question. It is none of his business. She may have been angry , and the stop aggravated it, over something in her personal life.
4.Cigarette smoke does not hide the smell of MJ. So the request was unreasonable.
5.We don't know if he attacked first, because the incident happened out of camera range, which is convenient for him.. Just his behavior prior tells me that he did attack first.

If someone refused to put out a cig in the hospital ( which is a public space, not a private space like a car) , I would call security. Smoking cigs in a hospital can cause fires, and burn patients on oxygen. She was in her private car, which was no risk to anyone else. It is a way different situation.

[TXDuke]

You proved my point. Do you want the cop to make up a law to enforce? If he does that, even for immigration, you would claim he is a jackbooted thug cause he isn’t bound by the law. Follow the law or not...which is it???

[kaila]

It is none of their business where I am going. None at all. The answer would not give any indication of drug trafficking. The whole war on drugs is just a money maker for the police, anyway.

[alamogal]

I believe I read where he is on leave for not following proper DPS protocol. In my neck of the woods, many Tx DPS come across as a little high handed. As for Waller County this would not be their first federal investigation. This definitely merits investigation. I don’t think she should have been ordered out of her car, nor taken to jail. Heck, I don’t even understand why she was pulled over. Failure to signal lane change..give me a break. Half the people out driving don’t do this. This guy would have been of better use to the tax payers of Texas to look for some real crime. Dang, I may be in Al Sharptons corner on this one.

[TXDuke]

1. How do you know the traffic conditions? Were you there?? Regardless, it is still a violation of the law.
2. Nobody said she was intoxicated, but he was within his rights to ask questions. Since when did simple questions become illegal or disrespectful?
3. He does have a right to ask because the law gives him that right. If you don’t like it then change the law.
4. Actually cig smoke does hide the smell of MJ. We see it all the time. Stopping talking about things you don’t know about. Have you ever done a traffic stop?
5. You’re admittedly making stupid assumptions without proof. That invalidates your entire argument. I can assume she was going for his gun since it was off camera, but that doesn’t prove a thing.
6. She was on a public roadway therefore the car is not legally a private space. Again, that is the law so if you don’t like it then change it. The open window constitutes a public space. He can order the cig out for officer safety (people have been know to burn cops with them) or for investigative purposes.

Calling security would escalate the situation. I could think your actions to be unreasonable because how many hospitals have burned down in the last 30 years due to cig smoke??? Also, the safety of the officer is just as important at your staff and patients. Again, you have no clue about law enforcement so you don’t understand the risks the cig could pose.

[Chgogal]

Let's put it this way. If you don't know how to deal with your boss, i.e. person of authority, and shove the Constitution in his/her face every time he/she asks you something, guess what YOU ARE F@#%$^G FIRED.

When an officer pulls you over and you pull that Constitution thingie on him/her, guess what, you are going to be asked to exit your car.

[dragnet2]

We also live in a nation of laws.

That's right estúpido gringos.

You better obey all laws and when ya get pulled over for those turn signal violations do not make any wrong moves, and above all be very polite and respectful! Smile, comply and obey, do not provoke!

[Lil Flower]

>assume it was illegal despite the facts<

What facts? Show us some facts.

[TXDuke]

Stick to the medical field cause you clearly don’t understand law enforcement.

Where you’re coming from and going is how most DWI/DUI and drug traffickers are found. The cop will ask those questions and then look for discrepancies. It is his business since you chose to drive on a public roadway. You driver’s license in TX is a privilege, not a right, and can be revoked at any time, even during a traffic stop by the cop.

You’re argument against the ‘war on drugs’ speaks volumes about you, but again, if you don’t like the laws then change them. Otherwise, cops must enforce and abide by them. I can assure you that there are many laws that cops think are stupid, but they still have to enforce them.

[TXDuke]

Watch the video...she refused to comply with lawful orders. That much is on video.

[TXDuke]

Rather than complain online, why don’t you try and change the laws so that law enforcement can start doing something about illegal immigration.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Seriously if you get pulled over and the cop starts out with an unnecessary question the best thing is just don’t answer. You are not required to answer. Just answer with another question such as why did you pull me over officer?

Or if they say do you know why I pulled you over. You say I think I’ll have to let you tell me.

[kaila]

1. Look at the video, no traffic.
2. Questions that are personal and probing by an agent of the government is Orwellian. I would not comply.
3. He can ask the question, but run into the risk of a provocation. Which it did, and look who got suspended? The cop.
4. Who is ‘ we see it all the time” Are you a cop? MJ is a very difficult odor to mask.
5.When a cop is provocative, all further actions he does is suspect.
6. She was on a public roadway, but in her personal car. The cig had nothing to do with her not using a light to change lanes. It had no relevance to the stop.

If a cop is such a pu**y that he cannot defend against a lit cigarette, when the woman is at a disadvantage by being restrained in a car with no mobility- then the cop needs to find another job.
Patients are on stretchers with oxygen. Lighting a cig can cause explosions in a hospital. That is why the policy is strictly enforced, and you don't see fires.

[TXDuke]

Just fyi...the cop should approach the car and state something like “the reason you were pulled over is because you failed to use your turn signal when changing lanes”.

His next question would be to ask where you’re heading and coming from and to provide ID and insurance. Failure to do any of the above may cause you to be told to exit the car. You are legally detained for the traffic violation so the cop has the legal right to ask you questions cause you’re on a public roadway. You can refuse the questions, but not the identification, however, the cop can also keep you there until he runs a full history on you, your passengers, and your vehicle to determine if you’re refusing cause you’re just disrespectful or because you’re a criminal. He can also call out a drug dog to walk around the vehicle. Normal people will answer those questions without worry unless they’re a##es or hiding something.

[Mr. K]

You are correct, but it is his JOB not to let things escalate.

Considering he pulled her over for failing to signal a lane change, he could have overlooked the cigarette and gone on his way.

She just didn’t “respeck his AUTHORITAH!!” and now she is dead for it.

This guy should not be on the force, how did he get this far?

[kaila]

If law enforcement is there to enforce laws, why do they threaten to not investigate minor crime such as breaking and entering, car theft? They say they don't have enough money in their budgets, yet they go after lane changers.
When cops start prioritizing what is important, then citizens may have more respect for them.