The “Black” Woman’s Mouth and Sandra Bland.
July 24, 2015 by Staff
Filed under News, Opinion, Relationships, Sista Talk, Weekly Columns
(ThyBlackMan.com) First of all, let me say the recent death of Sandra Bland in Texas was a tragedy that did not need to happen and my prayers are with her family. That being said, as a former detective, I have viewed the video confrontation between Bland and the Texas State Trooper. Here are the facts. Bland was irate and confrontational with the State Trooper when he was only about to give her a warning for failure to put on her signal before a lane change. Bland was non-compliant, even though she was asked to comply several times. This time, unfortunately, an African American woman had too much mouth with the wrong person and at the wrong time. I probably would have pepper sprayed her when she failed to comply with the instructions or done just as the State Trooper did. This time we cannot blame the Texas State Trooper. The incident was caught on video and can be seen at the link below:
http://news.yahoo.com/da-too-early-know-woman-died-texas-jail-071406087.html
Now more information has come out so let me put the pieces together based on my experience. First of all, I have seen the 52 minute unaltered video and the other video made by an African American young man which shows what did not appear on the trooper’s dashcam. Sandra Bland continued to run her mouth with profane, repulsive language even after the female officer arrived. Then she continued to be obscene as she was placed in the female officer’s patrol car. Bland may not have known that each use of profane or obscene language was grounds for which she could be arrested. Below is the law in Texas. It may be harsh, but it’s the law. And while Bland thought she knew her rights, she didn’t. Violation of the code below is a Class C misdemeanor, therefore in Texas it is a crime.
TEXAS PENAL CODE
TITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY
CHAPTER 42. DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:
(1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;
Here is the law in Texas for resisting arrest. Notice below in section (a) that Texas law does in fact allow the officer to arrest or search a person. Saying you know your rights does not stop the officer if he/she has found probable cause (including smelling an unlawful substance).If the officer finds “probable cause”, he/she does not 
need a warrant in order to take action. Sandra Bland was told to get out of her car over 7 times. She did not comply, she fought with the officer and therefore she resisted under Texas law. We may not think it is fair, but it is the law in Texas. And as shown in section B below, in Texas, the citizen cannot resist even if the search or arrest is unlawful. Wow. See the Texas code below.
TEX PE. CODE ANN. § 38.03 : Texas Statutes – Section 38.03: RESISTING ARREST, SEARCH, OR TRANSPORTATION
Note: underlined sections are by me
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally prevents or obstructs a person he knows is a peace officer or a person acting in a peace officer’s presence and at his direction from effecting an arrest, search, or transportation of the actor or another by using force against the peace officer or another.(b) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that the arrest or search was unlawful.(c) Except as provided in Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.(d) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if the actor uses a deadly weapon to resist the arrest or search. – See more at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/PE/8/38/38.03#sthash.tIUDyv1d.dpuf
What about the cigarette and can you smoke in your car? It goes deeper than that. The toxicology report shows Sandra Bland had marijuana in her system. And if it was street weed, it was likely laced with rat poison (arsenic), embalming fluid and a number of other lethal ingredients. That might account for the odd behavior from Bland which was referenced by the trooper when he went to the passenger side window and again when he went to the driver side window. If she had just smoked marijuana, that would explain why she did want to put out her cigarette. She would have been masking the scent of the marijuana. I have a hunch that the trooper got a whiff of the marijuana smell and thus asked her politely to put out her cigarette. If he smelled the masked marijuana, he would not have told her what he was doing or why.
Texas laws on marijuana are very tough. Sandra Bland had only been in town a day and she was about to start a new job a few days later. Because of Texas law, she could not afford to be arrested for marijuana. Look at the law below regarding Texas laws on marijuana. Maybe, just may, she knew that. If so, it would certainly account for her behavior which the trooper asked about twice. Even less than 2 ounces in Texas can carry a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Code Section Health & Safety §481.032, et seq. Possession Under 2 oz.: Class B misdemeanor; 2-4 oz.: Class A misdemeanor; 4 oz. to 5 lbs.: State jail felony; 5-50 lbs.: 3rd degree felony; 50-2000 lbs.: 2nd degree felony; Over 2000 lbs.: Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice institution for life or 5-99 yrs. and $50,000
Unfortunately Sandra Bland could have been charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault on a law enforcement officer. Then, when the female officer arrived and Bland continued to be irate, the female officer could have piled on more charges just to make things ugly. The tape recorded by the bystander could have been used as evidence by a prosecutor. I do not think Sandra Bland knew all of that. If she was innocent, the case would not have been tried on the street that day, but rather in court. Meanwhile she would have set in jail. I say again, do not say you know your rights if you do not actually know them.
I use this tragedy to illustrate a point about the mouth of most African American women. Condescending, confrontational, ambivalent, vile, negative and full of animosity are words that come to mind to describe the mouth of many of our women (not all of them). Our people seem not to want to address this issue. Instead too many would rather make excuses for “why her mouth has to be that way”. But when I hear the vile and repulsive mouth of a sister who cannot control her words, I hear the same tone as the slave master putting down the African American man all the while making excuses as he does it. A vile, negative, profane and condescending mouth does nobody any good and its illegal.
Ladies we African American men are tired of a mouth that tears down instead of building up. Correction is fine but it is how you do it and the words you use that make all the difference. Ladies do you want to be heard or just to tear down the man you say you care about? Guys if you are allowing a woman to speak to you in the wrong way, stop it and get a spine. And guys, speak to her with respect, honoring her and listening to her thoughts and opinions. So ladies, as a family and relationship counselor, I must say verbal and emotional abuse are ABUSE just like physical abuse. In fact, words cut deep and leave a lasting negative impact that is not soon forgotten. The African American man has been put down enough. Correct us, yes, but by building us up – not tearing us down. And ladies, in some states like Georgia, verbal abuse is literally against the law (reference Oprobrious Language: Fighting Words).
Before some of you say that I am scarred, I need to let you know that I am married to a sister who can control her mouth. She is a strong woman who expresses her opinion on anything and I want to hear it on everything. I value her opinion, especially when she disagrees with me. She knows to speak to me the way she would like to be spoken to and so do I. Yes she may get irritable or frustrated like any woman (or man) does, but she honors me, she respects me and she reflects that in how she communicates with me. I thank God for her because I know I am blessed.
Years ago Shahrazad Ali wrote a book entitled The Blackman’s Guide to Understanding The Black woman wherein she expressed that the “black” woman was less supportive of the “black” man than any other race or group on the planet. Instead of being honest about such a claim and asking why, a great many African American women simply dismissed her claim. I agree with her generally but of course that does not describe all “black” women. Yet it does describe far too many of our women. There is no excuses for an abusive mouth. Ladies, if you say it’s the man’s fault, didn’t you choose that man? And keep in mind that I am even harder on men because we are the leaders who must set the example. Read my other articles on this site such as What’s Wrong With The African American Man and you will see that my perspective is both objective and balanced. And ladies, before you point the finger at the man, know that doing so will not absolve you of accountability for your mouth.
Guys if you are with a verbally or emotionally abusive woman, draw a line in the sand. Refuse to be treated that way or spoken to in that manner. People only do to us what we allow to be done to us. And you cannot “act the fool” with her. If you do, there are two fools and no effective communication will ever come forth to accomplish anything. Guys be the example and don’t make things worse by acting the same way. Sit down and tell her what you will not accept. Go to a counselor or mediator. Attempt to identify the source of the anger that fuels her vicious mouth. Sometimes it is bi-polar disorder, hormone imbalance or past relationships.
Ladies, find an outlet, a way to vent your anger or frustration without taking it out on the man you say you care about. No more excuses. What are you teaching your children when you use words like weapons? And sometimes the best policy is to say something nice(or at least in the right way) or not to say anything at all. I do not know if Sandra Bland committed suicide, but I can say that her irrational and unnecessary confrontational mouth made matters a whole lot worse in a traffic stop where someone was not going to accept her behavior. We all can, should and must learn from that.
If the police ask you to do something, even if you feel they are wrong, just do your best to comply and handle it legally later. You will not likely be able to overcome the officer (even if he/she is wrong). And you may incur more charges or injury by fighting or resisting (even if the officer is wrong). When stopped by an officer (a good or bad one), your objective MUST always be to walk out of the encounter with little or no charges and with no injuries. Never forget that, regardless of your feelings, ego or hormones, and it will guide your actions in the encounter.
Staff Writer; Marque-Anthony
AT LEAST 107 LIKES OF THIS ARTICLE
That’s at least 107 people who can look at personal responsibility as well as what the officer did. That’s 107 mature people who can read and understand the law in Texas as stated in this article. That’s 107 people who know that its better to choose your battles carefully and sometimes just close your mouth to avoid a battle you will not win.
For Al You Sideline Critics Who Have Insults, Denial and No Solutions:
Its easy to blame the white man for all of our problems, isn’t it? Its easier than realizing what we contribute to the problem. And FYI, I have interviewed 7 BLACK female officers since the Sandra Bland incident, They include 3 detectives, 2 supervisors and two regular uniform officer. All have been in law enforcement for over 5 years and two of them worked in Internal Affairs at one time where they investigated police officers and even brought charges against other officers.
All 7 of them who KNOW THE LAW said they would have either tasered or pepper sprayed Sandra Bland. All 7 of them said they would not have been so patient as to ask her to step out of the car 7 times or more. All 7 of them said the evidence shows Sandra Bland was likely mentally unstable. All 7 of them said the Trooper followed Texas law, even though the law may be unfair and unjust. All 7 of them said she made things worse when she could have just left with a warning. All 7 of them said Sandra Bland broke Texas law and 6 of the officers said she was not arrested because of a cigarette.
So for all you critics who do NOT know the law, have no law enforcement training and want to walk in denial, here you have it. Black women who know the law, the black woman’s mouth and the facts.
To Reality Check
This site reaches and helps a lot of people. And so did this objective article based on the facts and the law, not based on a pro-black nor pro-cop position. The law is what it is in Texas. if you don’t like it, go change it. Meanwhile, it is the law, whether WE like it or not. I suggest you don’t go to Texas with your attitude or you may end up in jail there too.
Look at the number of LIKES on my article. I provided a clear and concise summary of the law, the facts and the evidence thus far. All you did was criticize. Where are your solutions?
To Clueless Bobbi:
What does the arrest and death of Sandra Bland have to do with a “Black woman’s mouth?” Sandra Bland met the wrong person at the wrong time who was not about to deal with her resisting arrest and her foul mouth. Further, if you can comprehend instead of just criticizing, read the Texas laws above. Use or profane or obscene language in Texas is grounds for arrest and/or charges against you. Can you read? You may not like the law but it is what it is. If you don’t then run for state legislature after you move to Texas then change it. You are in denial.
Apparently you have not read all of my article and my comments. They clearly point to knowing your rights. Sandra Bland thought she did but she did not. Do you know yours? I bet you don’t and I also bet you would have ended up in jail just like she did, wondering what happened.
Eric Garner was taken down by use of force because he would not comply. Go by the facts. The choke holds as such should not have been used and he should not have been killed. But we also cannot ignore the fact that if he had not resisted, there would have been no grounds for the officers to subdue him. If a cop asks you to do something, whether the cop is right or wrong, you have to comply because you cannot win that battle, not because thee cop was right. Did I just go over your head? Keep going head to head with cops and who do you think will win? Are you that clueless?
What should disgust you is the denial our people keep espousing instead of accepting personal responsibility for their actions.WAKE UP! What should disgust you is black on black crime which causes more deaths of our people than any white cop ever does.
As for the white woman’s virtue and Cosby, you are wrong yet again. I just spoke to a group of law school students two weeks ago to analyze the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses against Bill Cosby. You don’t know me and you don’t know what you are talking about.
A Trooper acted according to the authority given him by the state of Texas and the laws above in my article, whether you like it or not.
You are not balanced. you lean toward one side and ignore there are two sides to every coin. I suggest you try to find a balance to your thinking and go by the facts. White people should do the same. Until you can do that and offer solutions as I have, you should be disgusted with yourself “brother”.
To Brotherman,
First, I have no idea what your experience are or your point of reference is. But I do know that as a detective, I saw black cops do that and worse to our own people. It may be a color thing but maybe its the color blue sometimes verses everyone else. I have seen white people treated just like Sandra Bland was by white cops. I have seen the same with Asian cops, Hispanic cops etc.
Maybe racism grows because so many people play into it by taking one side or thee other. That is playing into the very trick that those who are white supremacists, racists and even illuminati want to happen.
We have to think people and learn how to battle. Sandra Bland was not an activist. She was an anarchist with no wisdom and there is a big difference. We don’t want to seem to face all of the facts. And like it or not, the law in Texas is the law in Texas – laws which she broke.
YOU NEVER FIOGHT A BATTLE AT THAT TIME ON THAT DAY IF YOU ARE HIGHLY LIKELY TO LOSE! If our people keep taking that approach, we will be wiped out.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=918394574886991&set=vb.102831309776659&type=2&theater
check this out this is when a white person act worse then anybody I ever seen with a cop. check out what the professional well trained officer does to this angry out of control white man in the car.
Are you kidding me. There is no Behavioral training you can perform when your are confronted with a serial killer. Stop being a media victim and pick up a history book. We tried this when they were hanging us for looking at a white woman. So we practice walking down the street with are head down. That was stupid. This officer are highly trained with a system backed by the supreme court to follow the law and justice for all. When you have trained officer behaving this way on the street you have bigger problem that going to get worse.
What does the arrest and death of Sandra Bland have to do with a “Black woman’s mouth?”
This article upsets me as I feel it highlights your admonishment of black women rather than the real problems – not knowing your rights, improper actions of a civilian during a traffic stop and the improprieties of the police officer.
Eric Garner illegally sold single cigarettes in a parking lot but, did that give the officers a right to use excessive force and choke him?
I would wager though, that you didn’t write an article citing “The jobless black men who sell contraband and Eric Garner.”
I would also wager you didn’t write any stories citing “The white woman’s virtue and _______insert name of the many white women who accused Cosby of rape.
I can name hundreds of other incidents here to point out the ridiculousness of your article.
Yet, you immediately denigrate an entire race of women- your race based on one woman’s actions.
Moreover, I challenge you as I have seen many irate, smart mouthed disrespectful women of many other races who use very vulgar language- this personality trait is not indigenous to black women.
If your wife, a sister- does not exhibit these qualities then apparently all do not- just as not all brothers are dead beats, jobless or drug dealers although we know an overwhelming number are regardless of the reasons. It amazes me that this is the article you chose to write regarding this incident. “The Black woman’s mouth.”
It doesn’t matter what the police officers you know or yourself would have done – the question is what should he have done as a person who represents the law and should maintain order and control in a situation. Whatever that answer is he didn’t do it.
Your article didn’t contribute to anything except to perpetuate the stereotype started and touted by Black men like yourself and is eagerly adopted by other races to denigrate Black women.
I know my mother- her mother- my sisters and myself are not loud, abusive or use vile, profane language.
I could name more than once that a man of another race has tried to stack himself against a Black man, using all of the stereotypes we know that are bestowed them in the course of getting to know me. But, when he walked away he was educated because, I let him know that he does not speak truth about all Black men…that my Dad, brothers, the men in my church are good dads, responsible men who take care of their families and respect their women -that black women respect them. He understands that he cannot bring that divisive rhetoric to me.
…..and here you are using your public platform in a woman’s unfortunate death to disrespect black women.
A police officer acted improperly. A woman was arrested and found hanging in her jail cell and you somehow found a way to write an article about “a black woman’s mouth.”
You disgust me brother.
You lost me with the marijuana talk. She had it in her system not at the time of the traffic stop and weeds side effects dont happen two days after it has been in your system. Get real. You sound like you are coming up with all the excuses in the world to defend injustice to that innocent woman. She asked “why does she have to put out her cigarette in her car” so she didn’t refuse to do anything. The cop pulled out the car for questioning his authority and that is probable cause to pull her out of the car. No . You can ask questions to police and you dont have to comply with everything and anything a police says. Thats anarchy. Its not right whether its in the law or not. So why defend it. Wrong is wrong and the police officer was wrong. He should of gave her the citation and went about his day. He escalated the situation and it resulted in her being dead. Law or not . Thats not fair or justice, regardless of the little small facts you use to fit your argument or agenda. If you dont see it that way you must have perception issues or just poor judgement or bad eyes, or maybe even deeper , a self hatred for blacks. Stop shading the facts. Since I am from Chicago I know what goes down in my city and I hate hearing the tired FOX NEWS CLICHES about” why arent we outraged about killings in Chicago” here are three examples of Anti Violence rallies in Chicago you cant shade or twist these facts ‘Marque-Anthony” https://youtu.be/jS4pGUpLYlw https://youtu.be/Z75GCZfRhNQ https://youtu.be/JtayZRu4j9o so after seeing these videos please stop and think before you write!!!! Checkmate LOL
*sigh* Thyblackman.com has gone to the dogs. Well, I guess to the pigs. Very unfortunate.
In the last week there have been 13 separate incidents of shootings in Chicago, mostly from the south side and by us against us. Our people have anger issues that cannot always be blamed on the police. Where are our marches, riots and protests against black on black crime?
By the way, in case my uninformed and angry critics in denial question my “blackness”, I spoke at several Trayvon Martin rallies. I was there for the Jordan Davis case. I was in Forsyth County. I have taught numerous seminars and workshops to the African American community on knowing your rights. I have produced literature, Ebooks and articles on how to handle police brutality. And the list goes on. So to those critics who walk in denial, what have you done?
Its sad that so many of our people in denial over this incident. Many of you want to ignore the laws citied in this article. You want to ignore Sandra’s mouth, continue to think she was arrested for failing to put out her cigarette and excuse everything she did. Then you want to cowardly make it seem like I am blaming her for her own death in the jail. I suggest you learn to read more carefully, especially my article and comments.
It is about the laws in place (like them or not). It is about facts and evidence on what did happen, not what we think should have happened. Don’t just jump on the bandwagon without looking at all sides of the coin. I stand with the facts, the evidence and the truth, not with the Texas State Trooper and not with Sandra Bland. As a mediator and a counselor, I must remain impartial but some of you who want to be angry just don’t seem to get that.
Sandra Bland ran into a cop who would not take all that lip. Sad, but true. Sandra Bland broke the Texas law by making an improper lane change. Sandra Bland thought she knew her rights but she didn’t. Sandra Bland had weed in her system. Sandra Bland was mentally unstable. She suffered from depression and PTSD. She had already previously tried to commit suicide and her family is downplaying that. She broke Texas law yet again by using profane and obscene language. Sandra Bland broke the law yet again by assaulting a State Trooper.
AS FOR WHAT HAPPENED AT THE JAIL, THAT IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ISSSUE! I have pointed out the irregularities there as well. I also pointed out that the jail should be held responsible and why. But for those of you who think I am lost, you are refusing to here all of this.
Let’s talk maturity for a minute. If she simply put out the cigarette (even if he should not have asked her to) then signed the freakin WARNING, she would not have gone to jail. She made it bad for herself and this time, militant behavior with no wisdom blew up in her face.
To Tonya,
This article exposes people like you who are willing to go to any lengths to deny personal responsibility for their own actions. The few people who have criticized me or this article have proved they do not know the law, just as unfortunately Sandra Bland did not know it either.
It seems easy just to lump all police together and blame them instead of facing that all of us need to know when to shut up, put out a cigarette and sign a simple warning. It’s not a matter of rights, it’s a matter of wisdom and maturity.
Fight battles you have at least a 50% chance of winning. That is just wise to do. Going head to head with a State Trooper in his state is never the wise thing to do. And if you do, you will end up in jail, like it or not.
If you will read the article and my comments closely, you will see I state the law, not what should or should not be. If you don’t like the laws (and I didn’t say I like them either), become a legislature, go vote, run for office or put community pressure on your congressman.
Where are your solutions. I have offered many. Don’t fall into the group who fails to know the laws and your rights, wants to blame someone else for your behavior and does not know the facts.
Wow, just wow!this article just cemented my astonishment at the lengths people will go to justify atrocities…I hope/pray for the author, that the anger for black women subsides and he gets that resentment and unforgiveness out of his system…regardless of what profanity used, what questions she asked, or what orders she “did or did not” follow…she should not be blamed for someone’s abuse of power and she should definitely not be blamed for being killed by those same hands…#mayGodtouchyourheartandsoul
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE:
O.K. let me explain this one more time. Sandra Bland was not arrested for failing to put out her cigarette. Her family, the news media and a bunch of people who are listening to propaganda instead of the facts about the law are misrepresenting what happened.
According to the laws of Texas, when Sandra Bland failed to use her signal, she broke the law
Texas Transportation Code Title 7, subChapter C, Chapter 545.104:
TRANSPORTATION CODE
TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD
CHAPTER 545. OPERATION AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES
SIGNALING TURNS; USE OF TURN SIGNALS.
(a) An operator shall use the signal authorized by Section 545.106 to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked position.
(b) An operator intending to turn a vehicle right or left shall signal continuously for not less than the last 100 feet of movement of the vehicle before the turn.
(c) An operator may not light the signals on only one side of the vehicle on a parked or disabled vehicle or use the signals as a courtesy or “do pass” signal to the operator of another vehicle approaching from the rear.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm
An officer who pulls you over has the option to do nothing, give you a warning, give you a ticket or arrest you. Yes for something as minor as failure to use your signal. A ticket is in lieu of bail, read the back of the ticket. And the officer has the discretion to escalate a warning to a ticket. And being that this traffic stop thing happens quite often in Texas to both blacks and whites, it is not likely an issue of racism.
Officers usually would not make an arrest in such case because the charge is so minimal, but they could if they chose to and it would be an lawful arrest. Any offense you can receive a ticket for is an offense you can be arrested for.
When Sandra Bland went back and forth with the Trooper and refused to put out her cigarette, the Trooper decided to remove her from the car and arrest her on the charge for which she was stopped, not for failing to put out her cigarette. Was that a petty thing for the officer to do? Yes, but it was within his legal authority. And if the family attorney is any good, he knows this all to be true. But he cannot say so because it would potentially weaken his case.
When Sandra started using profane and obscene language, according to Texas law, she broke the law again and could be arrested for disorderly conduct under the Texas Penal Code. Or she could be charged with Simple Assault under Texas penal code. That is the law in Texas, like it or not.
TEXAS PENAL CODE
TITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY
CHAPTER 42. DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:
(1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;
Sandra would not comply so the Trooper put her on the ground to cuff her. She then kicked the officer. That is Assault On A Public Servant in Texas and that was what she was charged with. See the police report for yourself. And Sandra kicking the Trooper was verified at the scene on video by a BLACK FEMALE POLICE OFFICER not from the same department as the Trooper.
In Texas you cannot resist arrest, search or transportation if the officer has probable cause. She had broken the Texas state law by making an improper lane change so the Trooper used that as grounds to remove her from the car. See the Texas law below and read carefully. Like it or not.
TEX PE. CODE ANN. § 38.03 :
Texas Statutes – Section 38.03:
RESISTING ARREST, SEARCH, OR TRANSPORTATION
Note: underlined sections are by me
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally prevents or obstructs a person he knows is a peace officer or a person acting in a peace officer’s presence and at his direction from effecting an arrest, search, or transportation of the actor or another by using force against the peace officer or another.
(b) It is no defense to prosecution under this section that the arrest or search was unlawful.
(c) Except as provided in Subsection
(d), an offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.(d) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if the actor uses a deadly weapon to resist the arrest or search. –
See more at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/PE/8/38/38.03#sthash.tIUDyv1d.dpuf
THESE ARE THE FACTS. SEE THE ENTIRE VIDEO FOR YOURSELF!!! Many people do not understand these laws so you want to ignore them, pretend it was about a cigarette or proclaim Sandra Bland’s innocence. But that just isn’t so, I’m sad to say.
REAL SOLUTIONS, NOT ACTING CRAZY AND ENDING UP IN JAIL:
If you received a ticket for an unsafe lane change, you may want to fight it if you believe you that you safe changed lanes. Most unsafe lane change citations are based on the subjective interpretation of a law enforcement officer – something that is easier to undermine than “hard” evidence like readings from a radar gun or a red light ticket. Officers may issue unsafe lane change tickets when drivers don’t use blinkers, cross multiple lanes of traffic, or don’t leave room for other cars to maneuver around them.
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Fighting the Ticket
Most state statutes require that drivers change lanes with caution. The law in your state may be something like this:
Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, the following rule applies: A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
Usually, you will have been cited because a law enforcement officer determined that you did not change lanes “with reasonable safety.” So the trick to fighting your ticket will be to either undermine the officer’s judgment or show that you were in fact driving safely. For example, if the officer states in his testimony that he gave you the ticket because your lane change forced another car to brake, you can counter that the other car had to brake because it was going too fast, not because you weren’t driving safely. Also, take into account where the officer was when he saw you change lanes. If he wasn’t close, you can bring his judgment into doubt by suggesting that he didn’t have a good view of the incident.
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE:
O.K. let me explain this one more time. Sandra Bland was not arrested for failing to put out her cigarette. Her family, the news media and a bunch of people who are listening to propaganda instead of the facts about the law are misrepresenting what happened.
According to the laws of Texas, when Sandra Bland failed to use her signal, she broke the law. An officer who pulls you over has the option to do nothing, give you a warning, give you a ticket or arrest you. Yes for something as minor as failure to use your signal.
Officers usually would not make an arrest in such case because the charge is so minimal, but they could if they chose to and it would be an lawful arrest. Any offense you can receive a ticket for is an offense you can be arrested for.
When Sandra Bland went back and forth with the Trooper and refused to put out her cigarette, the Trooper decided to remove her from the car and arrest her on the charge for which she was stopped, not for failing to put out her cigarette. Was that a petty thing for the officer to do? Yes, but it was within his legal authority. And if the family attorney is any good, he knows this all to be true. But he cannot say so because it would potentially weaken his case.
When Sandra started using profane and obscene language, according to Texas law, she broke the law again and could be arrested for disorderly conduct under thee Texas Penal Code. Or she could be charged with Simple Assault under the Texas penal code. That is the law in Texas, like it or not. Look it up.
Sandra would not comply so the Trooper put her on the ground to cuff her. She then kicked the officer. That is Assault On A Public Servant in Texas and that was what she was charged with. See the police report for yourself.
And Sandra kicking the Trooper was verified at the scene on video by a BLACK FEMALE POLICE OFFICER not even from the same department as the Trooper.
THESE ARE THE FACTS. SEE THE ENTIRE VIDEO FOR YOURSELF!!!
By The Way Critics Of Me,
I have copies of the police report.
I have copies of the info from the independent autopsy.
I have a copy of the jailhouse suicide interview.
I have a copy of TEXAS LAW.
I have the video recorder by the bystander.
I have the 52 minute unedited video of the traffic encounter.
So when you try to talk foolishness, I have to ask what have you analyzed? What skills do you have in evidence analysis? Where are your facts that refute any of the evidence above? All you have is opinions and insults. But neither are facts nor evidence.
Dear Rasil,
Insulting me does not change the facts. Nor the law.
Remember that.
And your diversion based in denial does not work on intelligent people who pay attention.
PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTACKING ME, the fact is that according to Texas law, you cannot resist arrest, even if you feel the arrest is unjust. READ IT FOR YOURSELF IN THE CITATIONS ABOVE!
Sandra Bland resisted arrest. Sandra Bland assaulted an officer. Sandra Bland broke thee law by failing to use her signal when changing lanes. Sandra Bland could have just been wise and quiet, put out the cigarette, signed the WARNING and gone on with her day. But she tried to say she knew her rights and she did not. She tried to fight and she lost.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE.
Cicero and Rasil neither of you can face the facts in the article. The truth is a hard pill to swallow and you represent those people in our race who are in denial. Try this, run your mouth and do as Sandra Bland did with a police officer and see what happens.
Both of you have learned nothing from the incident but to blame the police. That denial is what is weak. I offered numerous approaches that help the citizen leave the encounter unharmed. What did you offer as a real, legal and peaceful solution? NOTHING.
TEXAS LAW SHOWS BLAND WAS NOT WITHIN HER RIGHTS. What do you not understand about the laws quoted in the article? You read but you don’t comprehend. I never said the law was best nor that it was fair nor that it was good. BUT IT IS IN FACT THE LAW – LIKE IT OR NOT. Why do you think she went to jail?
And using words like diatribe does not remove the facts. Nor does it remove the law simply because you are offended. Let’s deal with the reality of what IS, not what you think should be. READ THE TEXAS CODES IN THE ARTICLE.
READ PEOPLE!
And if all you can do is criticize me for bringing out the law, the facts and the evidence, then you offer nothing but a lot of noise. FACTS ARE FACTS, WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT. Get out of denial.
To Reality Check,
You are in denial about the vile, profane and repulsive mouth many black women have. That was evident in the Sandra Bland video. And people like you are part of the problem because you deny the real problem and simply shift the blame. Now you are trying to blame me and I guarantee you that I have done more for the African American community than you have. You make assumptions and with your attitude, you would have ended up in a jail cell right next to Sandra unfortunately.
What do you do? Where does your experience and training come from? How many marriages and families have you saved? I thought so. Therefore you are a noise maker, you have not refuted any of the facts and you are in no position to judge me.
INSULTS ARE NOT EVIDENCE AND INSULTS ARE NOT SOLUTIONS
To Hoodgirl,
Thank you for responding with the truth, maturity and wisdom. We can never fix our problems ass a race if we keep blaming them on somebody else. There is a ton of evidence that proves Sandra Bland was not mentally stable. Should she die because of that? DEFINITELY NOT.
As a family and relationship counselor, I specialize in helping our people. Thus thee people on this site who say I am anti-black are so far off that they are beyond left field. For over 12 years I have been a counselor, mediator and life coach, helping thousands of African Americans, correcting police officers and rebuilding our families, schools and neighborhoods. BUT WE HAVE TO FACE OUR PROBLEMS AND MANY PEOPLE RESPONDING NEGATIVELY JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO BLAME FOR THEM.
To Reality Check,
You are very wrong. I am pro truth, pro facts and pro evidence – things you seem to want to ignore and cover with color. A great many people who read my articles, attend my seminars and have been my clients would disagree with you so I won’t even waste my time trying to prove you wrong.
Since you think you are right, you might want to read my other articles on this site which include the following:
How To Handle A Police Officer
Police Brutality And What You Can Do About It
Dangerous Police Officers
Rogue Cops
Good People Go To Jail Too
A Race War Is Coming
As for being anti-black, you are wrong yet again and you should read my articles also on this site such as:
Lifting Our People Up
The Value of An African American Man
We All Live In Alabama
etc.
You do not know what you are talking about and you want to blame the police while freeing our people from any personal responsibility for our actions. Life is not that way and neither is the law. My articles look at ALL sides, not just thee black side. I look at the current Texas law, like it or not, because it is what is in place.
Its time for our people to stop blaming everybody else and be responsible for our own actions. Grow up!!!
This is sooo tragic that the young lady lost her life before she had a chance to scratch the surface of life. Judging from what I’ve read and seen, it appears that she may not have been mentally stable. Police Officers should undergo training to identify such behavior to appropriately deal with people who display signs of mental disease because their primary responsibility is to protect and serve the public.
“LIFE is 10 percent of what happens to us and 90 percent of how we respond to it”!
oh…i forgot to say this…but I’m tired of all these weak azz “brothas” on the internet quick to blame the black woman. I have a reality check for you all: the black woman is the ONLY friend black men have! She is the only one still holding us up, taking care of us, supporting us, and generally concerned about our collective welfare. Without her most of OUR punk azzes would have been done centuries ago. No one else is putting in the work for us, INCLUDING us (black men) so let’s stop with the hate of black women.
Black women have earned their right to be vocal because they are the ones doing the heavy lifting. No other race of women are burdened with carrying their men. Other races of women can capitulate to their men because their men are actually TAKING CARE OF THEM like real men are supposed to..not so much the case with us…it’s an ugly reality.
Self hate is real, and it’s quite ugly. Thy black man.com needs to seriously reconsider this anti-black woman screed they allow on this website.
O yea… Almost forgot… BLACK LADIES KEEP “RUNNING YOUR MOUTH AKA HELPING FORM THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS” 2 Heads are always better than one.
The writer has spent alot of time in the Western Culture…i.e. Patriarch culture.
Thats where the blessings and message revolves around the MALE.
Well that’s not our culture even though your master has tried to imprint that programming into all my brown people.
You come from a culture wear women could be and were in power. Don’t expect much from this patriarch culture. Look white women couldn’t vote or own land in the country for a long time and they were married to the men who had the power to change that.
I would rather have any women with a strong nature. We will go further together than apart.
That’s the flaw of a Patriarch society where the men and only men make decisions or have a subcon narritive implace that says theu’re great based on physical traits and gender. Never will a nation be elite with this standard.
Sandra Bland’s situation just illustrates the problem of a Patriarch Society…
To the writer, your preaching a philosophy of weakness. The victim is dead. The officer is wrong, although not responsible for her death.
Arresting someone before a crime has been committed is wrong. I’ve smoked during traffic stops without a problem.
The officer was offended that she didn’t comply with a request, that request was low hanging fruit… under law had no legitimacy.
Reminds of the officer who ordered the detainees hands up in the air…waited until there arms got tired and then shot them ( they moved apparently). SMH
Entrapment… you ever smoked … maybe not, well go up to the next person you see smoking and ask them to put it out immediately and wait for it….
Pretty big trash can in the jail cell… thought they removed all items that could be used as a weapon…. and the cell mate is a stooly (alexandria is singin the sherriff’s tune)
Marque Anthony…I find your commentary the most denigrating and scathing commentary I have ever read regarding the Black woman. I have spent the majority of my career training, supervising, and mentoring both white and Black women and find many white women to be far more condescending, far more confrontational, far more vulgar etc., than any Black woman ever simply because they feel the sense of entitlement and privilege. Many not all, will lie, create false narratives and scenarios to prove their point. “…the vile and repulsive mouth of a sister who cannot control her words”…you should be ashamed to stereotype Black women as though you Black men are innocent. Black men, of course not all, oftentimes physically and verbally abuse Black women, yet will hold the forbidden fruit in high regard. Many times “Ms. Ann is abused. Black men have never really been socialized or TAUGHT to respect Black women and treat them like the queens they are. We are all victims of the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and have been socialized to adopt the ways and ideologies of the oppressor. When slavery ended, our ancestors walked away to fend for THEMSELVES. What we learned, we learned by observation. You obviously are “scarred” and have serious issues with the Black woman. You are filled with venom for her and obviously despise her in all of her glory. So you were a detective, but obviously you missed along the way. Sandra Bland was in her rights remaining in the car and NOT extinguishing her cigarette. She was NOT under arrest. It seems you have promoted yourself to a forensic expert citing marijuana in her system and further stating that it was “likely laced with rat poison (arsenic), embalming fluid and a number of lethal ingredients.” Jury of public opinion is dangerous. No one is concerned about the stories being crafted to cover-up the injustices. The public is seeking truth of which we pray will be forthcoming via the FBI and the family’s pursuit. Sandra Bland was the child of a mother and a father, had a host of family and friends, not an animal in the street. Marque Anthony…I find your commentary the most denigrating and scathing commentary I have ever read regarding the Black woman. I have spent the majority of my career training and supervising both white and Black women the and find white women to be even more condescending, more confrontational, etc., than any Black woman ever simply because they feel the sense of entitlement and privilege. They will lie and create false narratives and scenarios to prove their point. The vile and repulsive mouth of a sister who cannot control her words”…you should be ashamed to stereotype Black women as though you Black men are innocent. Black men oftentimes physically and verbally abuse Black women, yet will hold the forbidden fruit in high regard. Black men have never really been socialized or TAUGHT to respect Black women and treat them like the queens they are. We are all victims of the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and have been socialized to adopt the ways and ideologies of the oppressor. You obviously are “scarred” and have serious issues with the Black woman. You are filled with venom for her. So you were a detective, but obviously you missed along the way. Bland was in her rights remaining in the car and NOT extinguishing her cigarette. It seems you have promoted yourself to a forensic expert citing marijuana in her system and further stating that it was “likely laced with rat poison (arsenic), embalming fluid and a number of lethal ingredients.” Jury of public opinion is dangerous. No one is concerned about the stories being crafted to cover-up the injustices. This was some parents’ child, not an animal in the street.You have reduced an innocent dead woman to the ranks of an animal. As for your wife, I pity her and no doubt by the rant crafted here, she is afraid of you. That’s a method of control. No one defames, denigrates, marginalizes, or victimizes a Black woman as you have so aptly executed here. You are the enemy of the Black woman; one who hates her. I find your diatribe despicable,denigrating, offensive, disrespectful, and harmful to my beloved people. You should be ashamed to allow words as you have declared and retract every single word in this false narrative. Although you have minimized the Black women who do not fit into this aberrant character, you have painted the majority of Black women with a broad brush of which you should be ashamed. I have NO respect for you and will never forget the harshness of your words. You have reduced an innocent dead woman to the ranks of an animal. As for your wife, I pity her and no doubt by the rant crafted here, she is afraid of you. That’s a method of control by a narcissist. No one defames, denigrates, marginalizes, or victimizes a Black woman as you have so aptly executed here, but one who hates her and self. I find your diatribe despicable, denigrating, offensive, disrespectful, and harmful to my beloved people. You should be ashamed and retract every word in this false narrative. Then again, narcissism never allows such behavior. Although you have minimized the Black women who do not fit into this aberrant character, you have painted the majority of Black women with a broad brush of which you should be ashamed. I have NO respect for you and will never forget the harshness of your words. May Sandra Bland rest in peace and may you hang your judgment in shame.
@All: No need arguing with Marque Anthony. He has presented himself to be pro-cop and anti-black on several occasions, ESPECIALLY where issues of police brutality, injustice, and black folks’ unequal treatment under the law are concerned. somehow, no matter how irrational law enforcemnt is or how many laws they break in dealing with black folks- somehow it’s always the black person’s fault. This perspective is from a person that drank the blue kool aid a long time ago and views the world through blue lenses.
I just wish thyblackman.com would put the author’s name at the top of the article so I know which ones to avoid.
Every war that is won without huge casualties is fought strategically, not always head to head. Google The Art of War. Knowing when to pull back and when to advance can help you win. Knowing how to fight can help you win. Knowing the strength, weaknesses, limitations and resources of your enemy can help you win. Only a fool fights in a burning house. And only a fool picks up a stick when your adversary has a gun.
I do not say we should not fight. Just the opposite. I say fight in ways we know we can win, not in ways where we are certain to lose. I had to learn that and therein lies wisdom. Sandra Bland (God rest her soul) did not understand that. I HOPE YOU DO!
SANDRA BLAND fell right into the trap that white racists hope our people will fall into and she lost. We have to be smarter than that people. And for those of you who can’t handle this truth, you are likely to make the same mistakes she did. We have to choose our battles wisely and fight in ways we are likely to win. I pray for her family and I pray our people know there is a better way that what she did.
DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN THE LION’S MOUTH AND EXPECT TO WIN!
And To Levar Smith,
I have corrected more police officer than you ever have. I have trained officer more than you ever will. I have written more, spoken out more and taught more on how to handle renegade or rogue police officers than you ever have. But the facts are the facts and the law is the law. So I doubt you have the track record of helping our people which is big enough to criticize me.
I just wrote an article on how to handle a police officer. I also wrote articles with messages to “black” police officer on not becoming the guard dog against our own people. My views are accurate and balanced. You do not know enough to negatively and profanely criticize me. What have you written? How many rallies have you spoken in? How many crime prevention classes have you presented to our people?
As For The Suicide:
Fact: Sandra stated on her Facebook page that she had depression and PTSD. PTSD is the cause of suicides by our military officer every week.
Fact: Sandra was taking Kepra, a drug that the FDA says increases thoughts of suicide. And she was not monitored properly by the jail, even though they knew this.
Fact: Sandra had weed in her system, which is a further depressant. And withdrawal from weed can drop a person even lower. Especially street weed mixed with everything from rat poison (arsenic) to embalming fluid.
Fact: Sandra stated on thee suicide evaluation at the jail that she was depressed at that moment and that she had tried to commit suicide earlier this year using pills because of thee loss of a child.
We don’t seem to want to admit it, but Sandra Bland had some real issues. And they were complicated by being a trouble maker, not an activist for our rights. There is a big difference.
I urge you readers to look at the Texas laws and the actions of Sandra Bland. She was irrational and something was wrong, something a lot more than being angry at a traffic stop where you are only getting a warning and asked to put out a cigarette.
If you listen to the entire 52 minute tape, you will hear the conversation between the Trooper and his supervisor. There is nothing that suggests racism I it and the Trooper was almost as distraught as Sandra. The devil simply came in and took over, leaving both people bewildered.
Feel free to email me at brainstormonline@yahoo.com for a Free Ebook on Police Brutality and What You Can Do About It
People Wake Up,
I do believe something illegal happened in that jail. I believe Sandra ran her mouth some more and became combative with the corrections officers. I also believe they probably beat her up. I believe she then went further into a depression and hung herself.
I am sorry that happened to her. But we have to learn from this. And if nothing else, we have to learn CLOSE YOUR MOUTH, KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP! Even if her rights were violated by having to put out a cigarette, all the more reason to put it out, sign the WARNING and get the Hell away from a cop that you feel is being unreasonable.
How stupid and futile is it to go back and forth with a police officer that you believe to be racist and unreasonable? If you do, I can practically guarantee you that you will lose. Sign the warning, leave and carry on the rest of your day.
If the officer was petty for asking Sandra to put the cigarette out, we need to also admit she was immature for not taking the high road and putting it out so she could end the encounter. Obviously, if he was bringing fire, it was not smart to add more fuel to it.
To Levar,
You are displaying the very ignorance that white racists hope our people will display. You need to be more mature than to use insults. Why not address the law and thee facts and the evidence? You would have probably acted just like Sandra Bland and you would have ended up in jail just as she did.
There is a way to handle things and as the readers can see by your comments, you do not know the right way. Your attitude will only cause you problems, just like Sandras did.
To Oscar,
First of all, read Texas law as I have correctly cited above. The arrest was lawful because any ticketable offence can, at the option of the officer, move to an arrest. When she failed to signal as she changed lanes, that was a ticketable offense and thus an offense she could also be arrested for. Most officers wont arrest you for that but they could. A ticket is in lieu of bail and they present you with a copy of charges instead of arresting you. Your assertion is therefore incorrect.
Secondly, look at the Texas law cited in my article which addresses profane or obscene language, also against the law in Texas and thus an offense she could be arrested for. So again, you are incorrect. Read the laws, don’t go by what you think they should be.
Next, the Texas law above states that the citizen does not have the right to resist even if she believes the arrest is unlawful. So there is no reason Texas allows her to use as a defense. Its Texas law (cited above), like it our not.
Furthermore, you are making assumptions to say the only reason she could have done something. Speculation but the law in Texas is crystal clear. You just seem to want to disagree with it or act like it is not what it is. I don’t like that law very much either, but I cannot ignore that it is the law in Texas.
The officer said he was giving her a warning but at any time he has the option to change that, at least before it is issued (before she signs it).
Marque Anthony, you are attempting to deal with several issues simultaneously. Let’s focus on the arrest. Clearly it was an unlawful arrest. Here is why.
If she did assault the officer as he claims. She had to have a reason, a motive. The only possible motive is that she was resisting arrest. So for the sake of argument let’s say she did kick the officer as she resisted arrest. Then the next question is, “Why was she arrested?”
Yes, you can be arrested in Texas for changing lanes without signaling. But the officer says repeatedly on the video that he was giving her a warning ticket for that offense and we see him about to hand her a ticket. He only gets angry and orders her out of the car when she refuses his REQUEST to put out her cigarette.
As for the cigarette, it is likely that she was using it to mask a marijuana smell on her breath, in her car or on her clothes. Toxicology reports show she had marijuana in her system. And unless she smoked it in thee jail, she had it in her system before she went to jail. Thus she had it in her system at the traffic stop.
Email your number to me at brainstormonline@yahoo.com because I would like to speak to you personally about this case. I respect your right to disagree and I appreciate your efforts to tackle the issue.
I’m being told to grow up by dick sucking black man who loves white supremacy lmao the f*** out of here pussy
and black people like you are the reason why we were stuck in chattel slavery a hundred years longer than what we were supposed to a****** f*** you
To Levar Smith,
You and your attitude are exactly what police officers see, expect and profile black people to be. Many of us do not think like you. And people like you want to ignore the facts and the evidence. Instead you just want to blame someone else for when YOU acted the fool and it came back in your face. Grow up and be responsible for your own actions. You must be related to Sandra Bland.
man this guys A f****** clown f*** this cop
Marque Anthony, you are attempting to deal with several issues simultaneously. Let’s focus on the arrest. Clearly it was an unlawful arrest. Here is why.
If she did assault the officer as he claims. She had to have a reason, a motive. The only possible motive is that she was resisting arrest. So for the sake of argument let’s say she did kick the officer as she resisted arrest. Then the next question is, “Why was she arrested?”
Yes, you can be arrested in Texas for changing lanes without signaling. But the officer says repeatedly on the video that he was giving her a warning ticket for that offense and we see him about to hand her a ticket. He only gets angry and orders her out of the car when she refuses his REQUEST to put out her cigarette.
Clearly, she was arrested for REFUSING HIS REQUEST TO PUT OUT HER CIGARETTE. There is no law in Texas or anywhere in the US stating that a person can be arrested for refusing to put out their cigarette while sitting in their own car. An illegal arrest is not a violation of policy, but a violation of law.
If you do not agree with this assessment. Please explain why. Thank you.
Author’s Update:
1. Sandra Bland’s intake form showed she said she had been SUICIDAL THIS YEAR using pills because of the lose of a child (I have that form info).
2. Sandra Bland allegedly said in the jail she felt depressed. Her cell mate (Alexandria Pyle) also attested to that and that she hear Sandra crying.
3. Sandra Bland was reportedly on a drug called Kepra. See link below.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/full-toxicology-report-sandra-blands-death
Also, according to the FDA, Kepra “may increase thee risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior”.
4. In a phone call to family, Sandra claimed her shoulder may have been broken so many have said she could not have hung herself. But I found that she signed the jail forms legibly.
5. In 2012 the same jail brought in an inmate (white male) for the same charge Sandra Bland received. He mysteriously hung himself with a bed sheet. The jail was sighted for not checking on inmates visually as they should have. It appears they messed up again in Sandra’s case.
6. Based on the forms and jail documents as well as the warning by the FDA, Sandra should have been placed in suicide watch and watched closely. It appears the jail screwed up. The FDA warning specifically states “Be alert for the emergence or worsening of symptoms of depression.
7. Jail forms state Sandra Bland said she had Epilepsy. She can also be heard saying this in the traffic stop video.
8. The autopsy did not find any defensive injuries. But it did find lacerations from the handcuffs AND several cuts on Sandra’s arms which were not recent and already healing or healed. Hmmmm.
9. It has been reported that months earlier Sandra Bland said on her Facebook page that she was depressed and suffered from PTSD. This concurs with what she appears to have told the jail in July 2015. Note that her jail forms show she stated that she had tried to commit suicide with pills ALSO IN 2015.
10. An African American female police officer said on the dashcam video that she saw Sandra Bland assault the Texas State Trooper. It was this female officer who searched Bland’s vehicle.
11. The Texas Trooper made a similar stop before he stopped Sandra. He essentially took the same approach. In both cases, he seemed to be of sound mind and in both cases he was going to issue just a warning. But the other person he stopped did not respond the way Sandra did at all.
Click the link below:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/full-toxicology-report-sandra-blands-death
In my professional opinion, the jail should be held responsible.
And get this, what about the current Sheriff Royce Glen Smith was allegedly fired as Hempstead Chief of Police in 2007 after several accusations of RACISM.
Based on evidence thus far, I can conclude that Sandra Bland went over the edge after the traffic incident. That coupled with the testimony of her cell mate, the increased thoughts of suicide as a result of Kepra medication and the fact that the jail fails to watch inmates as they should – all led to Sandra taking her own life. And remember, according to the toxicology report, she also had weed in her system. Marijuana (especially street weed laced and not pure) can push depression or the withdrawal from not having it can do the same, if not worse.
But let’s see what other evidence comes out.
EMAIL ME at brainstormonline@yahoo.com for a copy of the police report etc.
Guys and Ladies,
I have actually not seen such a reasonable State Trooper in a long time – and I have friends who are Troopers. He asked her more than 7 times to get out of the car. Many officers would have not been that patient and you guys know it. He pulled the taser but did not use it. Many officers would have in a heart beat.
The trooper was going to give her a warning. Wow do they still giver just warnings? That was all she was going to get, even though she was “black”. As I write these comments, I am reading a copy of the actual police report. Wow all he charged her with was Assault On A Public Servant. I would have charged her with Disorderly Conduct, Simple Battery, Assault On An Officer and added on a ticket for the illegal lane change without using her signal.
And when she kicked me in the shin or elbowed me, she would have gotten pepper sprayed at minimum.
Now would I have gotten her out of the car? Probably not but I would have changed the warning to a ticket. Then if she mad things worse, I would have escalated as well. It would have been up to her – and it actually was. Sandra Bland took things in the wrong direction. And if you get stopped by a cop (good or bad one), that is no reason to feed the fire and give him/her a reason to do something. Sometimes we just need to know when to shut up. And if all I am about to get is a warning, I would put out the cigarette so fast that your head would spin. Some things are just wisdom so you can go on with your day and your life.
I was shocked that she only had a $5,000 bond for a class 3 FELONY against an officer. Wow, I have seen higher bonds for shoplifting. So many of you can say he did not have to stop her, but once you are stopped, somebody has to be smart.
I am the author of this article.
Email me at brainstormonline@yahoo.com for a FREE EBOOK on Police Brutality and What You Can Do About It
or for a copy of the Sandra Bland Police Report.
But whatever you do, LEARN YOUR RIGHTS AND REMEMBER THEM!!!
To JoeClyde,
You are not correct. I saw the full 52 minute video. She was pulled over legitimately because she made an illegal lane change. Petty and nit-picky of the officer? Yes. But lawful.
I hide behind nothing but I also don’t hide behind falsely being a victim. We may not like the law, but it is a fact and Sandra broke it, like it or not. As for the trooper having been dealt worse, I don’t know. You may be right but that is speculation and has nothing to do with the fact that Sandra Bland broke the law, resisted arrest, used profane language also against the law in Texas and assaulted an officer while resisting arrest. READ THE LAWS ABOVE. She did not have the right to resist even if she believed the arrest to be wrong. A jacked up law? Yes. But its the law in Texas and she broke that one too.
Incidently, a black female officer search Sandra’s car and verified on camera that she saw Sandra Bland kick the officer. There was also evidence of it on his pants leg.
To Nat,
I disagree and I am sure you do not know most cops. Furthermore I am also sure I have been around more of them than you have because I am a former detective. Most cops are not demon creatures with guns, blue lights and badges waiting to ruin your day. Yes there are poorly trained cops, cops with out of control egos, abusive cops and cops who should never have passed the psychological exam. I have written several articles on this site that address those cops and what to do about them so I don’t have blinders on. But none of that changes the mouth and behavior of Sandra Bland and we have to face that.
My additional research leads me to believe something happened in the jail that was illegal. However, at the same time, months ago Sandra Bland said on her Facebook page that she suffered from depression and PTSD. The same type PTSD that is causing our military officers to commit suicide every week.
Sandras jail intake form allegedly also shows that she said she had once tried to commit suicide due to the lose of a child. Certainly her behavior during the traffic stop was not normal, even for a person irritated at the police. She basically lost it and it was not just because of her cigarette. Read my article carefully. When you are stopped by the police for a ticketable offence, the officer has a choice to give you a warning, give you a ticket, give you nothing or arrest you. She didn’t understand that as the law in Texas.
That being said, I told a police department yesterday that they need to distribute materials on how to interact with law enforcement if you are stopped. At the same time, we NEED TO REALLY KNOW OUR RIGHTS. Sandra thought she knew hers but she didn’t. See the laws I quoted in my article above.
I agree that African Americans are often treated differently. But I also know that many of our people act out differently and Sandra’s mouth caused her a whole lot of unnecessary problems.
And while we are at it, it may be even more dangerous to get stopped by a “black” Uncle Tom cop who is trying to impress his white colleagues. I have seen that a lot as well so it’s not just white officers that we have to be concerned about.
She should have never been pulled over to begin with. I bet if we looked at previous stops by the officer. He has been dealt worse and walked away.
Stop hiding behind law.
All of what you wrote is well and good but we also know that MOST cops don’t follow rules to the letter of the law. They have a wide area gray area that allows subjectivity to come in..and racist beliefs and insecurity and fears when dealing with a black person who threatens their preconceived notions of how black people are supposed to act in the presence of assumed ‘authority’. If this had of been a white woman asking LEGIT questions about WHY she was being arrested..and displaying an understandable irritation..but then again, why even continue when we KNOW that a white woman, given the same circumstances, would have been given a polite send on her merry way with a warning at the very most. I believe this woman was targeted and murdered. She was arrested on Friday and dead by Monday. This is business as usual when law enforcement deals with black people. It’s systemic and well-documented. Big mouth or not. Tamir Rice wasn’t mouthy & yet he’s still dead. So this is an excuse by ‘black’ people who shill for the system. Massa has brainwashed you well.