• Home
  • Archive
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • May 9, 2025

The Madison Times

The Paper That's More Than Black and White

  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • International News
    • Sports News
    • Education News
  • Columns
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Life Lessons with Alex Gee
  • Events
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
  • Classifieds
  • Community
    • Middle Spread
  • Milwaukee

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

DWB: Dying While Black – Another Death Raises Concerns on Police Tactics

July 24, 2015

By Rob Franklin
July 24, 2015
 
Sandra Bland
Sandra Bland
 
 
A law enforcement officer committed violations during the traffic stop of Sandra Bland, an African American woman found dead inside a Waller County jail cell.
 
According to a preliminary review by the Texas Department of Public Safety, authorities spotted violations of the department’s procedures and courtesy policy in dash cam video showing a state trooper’s interactions with Bland on July 10.
 
Bland, from the Chicago suburb of Naperville, moved to Texas to work at Prairie View A&M University, the historically black college from which she graduated in 2009. She was arrested on July 10 in Prairie View following a traffic stop, and authorities say she hung herself Monday morning in a Waller County Jail cell about 60 miles northwest of Houston.
 
Bland’s death comes at a time of increased national scrutiny of police after several high-profile cases where African Americans have been killed by officers or died while in custody. 
 
The deputy involved is now performing administrative duties pending the outcome of an investigation.
 
The Waller County District Attorney’s Office said it planned to release video of that traffic stop, along with footage from inside the jail hallway. The Waller County District Attorney’s Office says first, the FBI will look into whether the video has been tampered with or not.
 
On Friday, a group of protesters marched from the jail in the small Texas town of Hempstead to the courthouse. The march led by Houston activist Quanell X covered about half a mile. Demonstrators shouted “No justice, no peace!” and “We demand answers!” Many carried signs.
 
As Bland’s family and friends search for answers for what happened, a prosecutor said Thursday that he will present the findings of a Texas Rangers’ investigation to a grand jury. The FBI is also investigating the circumstances surrounding Bland’s death.
 
Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said an autopsy found Bland died by asphyxiation and that she used a plastic bag to hang herself from a partition in her cell. He also said that although jail video didn’t show what went on in Bland’s cell, it showed no one went in or out of it from the time she was placed there until a jailer found her unconscious.
 
Family members say they do not believe she would commit suicide.
 
Bland’s college friend Lanitria Dean, says she does not believe Bland would kill herself despite social media videos showing her friend talking about battling depression.
 
Waller County and state officials spoke about the investigation surrounding Bland’s death. By state requirements, inmates should be checked on by deputies every hour.
 
In Bland’s case, county officials say, deputies didn’t check on Bland for an hour and a half before they discovered her dead body. However, they claim someone spoke with Bland through the intercom system.
 
Discovered Friday in records from the Texas Commission on Jail Records, the Waller County jail was cited in 2012 for not checking on inmates face-to-face each hour as required.
 
The Waller County District Attorney says they will deal with Bland’s investigation as their top priority. They also plan to address the jail issues with the Waller County sheriff.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Popular Interests In This Article: DWB, JULY 24 2015, Sandra Bland, VOL. 25 NO. 28, Waller County TX

Read More - Related Articles

  • Twice Vulnerable: Black Women Live at Intersection of Both Racial & Gender Violence
  • Cutting The Cake: UW, Other State Schools Feel the Budget Cuts
    Cutting The Cake: UW, Other State Schools Feel the Budget Cuts
  • Taki S. Raton Honored and Remembered During Memorial Service
    Taki S. Raton Honored and Remembered During Memorial Service
  • Classifieds/Employment: July 24, 2015
    Classifieds/Employment: July 24, 2015
  • Young, Gifted & Black Series: MPS Reagan Presidential Scholar Recipient Chooses Howard University for College
    Young, Gifted & Black Series: MPS Reagan Presidential Scholar Recipient Chooses Howard University for College


Connect With Us

Become Our Fan On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook


Follow Us On Twitter
Follow Us On Twitter

Editorials

Karma Chavez
Amanda Zhang
Julianne Malveaux
Benjamin Chavis
George Curry

Journalists

Jacklin Bolduan
Brianna Rae
Aarushi Agni
Rob Franklin
Claire Miller

Topics

Brown Girl Green $
Young Gifted & Black
Universally Speaking
Ask Progress
Civil Rights

Topics

Police Shooting
Police Brutality
Black Lives Matter
NAACP
Racism

Politicians

Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
Gwen Moore
Paul Soglin
Scott Walker

Contact Us

Phone:
414-449-4860

Copyright © 2025 Courier Communications. All Rights Reserved.
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.