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Sandra Bland Found Dead in TX Jail, Police Say Suicide, Family Disagrees
- Thread starter EdibleKnife
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Hurricane_Chris
DDK
Fuck that thug. He was wrong. He escalated the situation. And as far as I'm concerned all cops, including you, are bad because you look at that video and, despite the cop escalating and lying about the circumstances of the arrest and using unnecessary force to stop a harmless woman, you see nothing wrong. Want folks to give cops the benefit of the doubt? Stop profiling. Stop lying about the circumstances of arrests. Stop killing unarmed people. Stop going online and defending your "brothers in blue" when there is evidence plainly showing the cop is in the wrong. Stop saying your job is hard and we can't know what you go through. You are getting paid. Do your fucking jobs and speak out when other cops do wrong. That'd go a long way, buddy.
Whether it was a suicide or not is irrelevant. If the cops doctored the video and killed her, I'm pretty sure no one will be punished. If she was pushed over the edge by the trauma of her encounter with a wild pack of jackbooted thugs and killed herself, well that's still on the cops.
Wuthering_Heights
Banned
Cant really see where the cop is going to come out of this looking justified.
On Point on NPR did a nice moment by moment breakdown with a constitutional law professor - and while she injected a bit of her own speculation and assumption as fact - she made a convincing case about the legality of the victims rights.
Basically that cops are trained to explain and give reasoning for any action they are taking against a civilian.
And just from watching it myself he basically lost his cool and used his authority as an officer to his advantage. Sure, she wasn't exactly the most cooperative or respectful person but that doesnt give the cop the right to escalate the situation like he did and in the manner he did.
On Point on NPR did a nice moment by moment breakdown with a constitutional law professor - and while she injected a bit of her own speculation and assumption as fact - she made a convincing case about the legality of the victims rights.
Basically that cops are trained to explain and give reasoning for any action they are taking against a civilian.
And just from watching it myself he basically lost his cool and used his authority as an officer to his advantage. Sure, she wasn't exactly the most cooperative or respectful person but that doesnt give the cop the right to escalate the situation like he did and in the manner he did.
benjipwns
Banned
Wait for the investigation.
Lil'DigiOp
Member
This post is golden. Its insane how these things seem to just continually happen.
This videos are so hard to watch, US cops are insane. I don't know if she killed herself or was murdered but either way the police are 100% at fault. When she is on the ground she says, you slammed my head so hard I can't hear. That is textbook concussion, they can do fucked up shit to people. Concussed, abused, locked up for nothing, when people are that type of situation it's not impossible to believe depression takes over. So I don't care if they killed her or abused her till she killed herself. Either way they should be held responsible for her death.
I'll certainly revisit my opinion as more facts and analysis comes out but I am completely fine with giving my opinion as of right now. I don't think I drew any assumptions or made any hyperbolic statements.
benjipwns
Banned
I meant for the part where the cop comes out as justified.
Well yeah, who knows what the department/FBI will officially determine but from my perspective I can't see how what he did was justified.
Like I said, some people can't look at things rationally.
Please share your perfectly rational and unbiased thoughts. We all could use the laugh.
The US is a terrifying place if what you're saying is true and her arrest was justified. Is there a law saying you need to be acting " nice " towards a police officer or he has the right to arrest you ?
I know people can be dicks and it can be hard for police officers to stay calm but that's part of the job. Just give her a damn ticket and move on. No need to go on a random power trip.
GravityInsanity
Member
Yeah, she was murdered!
Standing mugshots
On the ground mugshot (Also, reported dead)
On the ground
chaobreaker
Member
This got morbid real quick.
Heavy_D206
Member
Jesus Fucking Christ, if she really is dead in that mugshot then this could be the worst police cover up of all time.
Really hope the truth comes out soon.
Really hope the truth comes out soon.
She may have committed suicide, it's possible. Lots of evidence pointing toward the contrary too though. Problem is you seem unwilling to see that side of it.
Furthermore what is this mistake excuse bullshit? If I mistakingly lose my cool and threaten you as a cop are you forgiving me? What if I strike you? Of course fucking not. So why do police officers - who swear an oath and are held to a higher standard - supposed to just get a pass for fucking up?? If anything a critical mistake of this sort from an officer should be magnified, not diminished.
The police arrested her because he couldn't stand someone not bending down to his authority even though she didn't really do anything wrong but why would they murder her though? I've read in some articles that she's called people like her sister and bondsmen http://abcnews.go.com/US/sandra-blands-voicemail-jail-im-loss/story?id=32624003. This would be after the mugshot and processing right?
NPR the other day spoke of her talking about severe depression either online or to friends or something. That was the best they could come up with in terms of any sort of rationale. But they preceded that with the numerous accounts of why she had little reason to commit suicide. Such as her new job, her conversations, her recent demeanor etc.
Wow, if that speculation about the mugshot is true the FBI is going to crucify the PD.
I'd hope that some sort of real punishment comes down from them regardless. The way the traffic stop was handled is inexcusable.
EDIT: And now I feel stupid for not noticing everything wrong with those pictures. Doesn't make her death any less suspicious though.
I'd hope that some sort of real punishment comes down from them regardless. The way the traffic stop was handled is inexcusable.
EDIT: And now I feel stupid for not noticing everything wrong with those pictures. Doesn't make her death any less suspicious though.
I kinda think that conspiracy theory is beyond far fetched. She had a court appearance. Made a phone call after being booked. They take the mugshot during the booking if I am not mistaken. Frankly it could just be something as simple as the camera being too low that it gave a weirder angle.
PHOENIXZERO
Member
And the conspiracy crazies keep coming...
I'm pretty sure I could hang from a standard black trash bag and I'm bigger than she is.
I'm pretty sure I could hang from a standard black trash bag and I'm bigger than she is.
The mugshot speculation hurts the case more than helps it. You can simply point to Sandra's posture and bad camera exposure to explain it. Besides, this police department is not smart enough to pull off something as creative as a post-murder mugshot.
Heavy_D206
Member
At first I thought it was weird that she was in the orange jumpsuit in the mugshot since ur usually in your street clothes for that, but then I went back and looked at Lohan's mugshots and she was wearing the orange jumper in hers too.
Lost Fragment
Obsessed with 4chan
All the "evidence" for the murder theory that I've seen is some "jet fuel doesn't burn hot enough to melt steel beams" shit.
Cop was a dick tho.
Cop was a dick tho.
The weird MS Paint stuff damages the real discussion: she didn't just disappear into police black hole but indeed was in touch with family and bail advice.
But that shouldn't distract from the fact that she was brutalized by an arresting officer and died in suspicious conditions; even if she committed suicide the question should be asked what led into that happening as you would imagine just moving to a new city and getting a new job doesn't seem like a moment to end it all.
But that shouldn't distract from the fact that she was brutalized by an arresting officer and died in suspicious conditions; even if she committed suicide the question should be asked what led into that happening as you would imagine just moving to a new city and getting a new job doesn't seem like a moment to end it all.
Jelly Rajah
Banned
Stop with the ridiculous conspiracy theories.
Pathetic.
Pathetic.
Whether it turns out she was murdered by cops or committed suicide, the fact that we have gotten to a place culturally where a significant portion of society are not shocked that something like this could have happened speaks volumes about how broken the relationship between law enforcement and the citizenry has become.
I say this especially to the few posters that have come in here and almost tried to make a mockery of those that they see as having jumped to conclusions. Asserting the ridiculousness of the trend they see where people supposedly always assume the cop is 100% at fault. Always and forever.
The question those people should be asking is why so many people have began to assume the cops guilt at the onset of these incidents? You should be asking yourself what is it in this country that law enforcement has done to make such a significant portion of the population, across the country, have a complete erosion in terms of trust in law enforcement?
I say this especially to the few posters that have come in here and almost tried to make a mockery of those that they see as having jumped to conclusions. Asserting the ridiculousness of the trend they see where people supposedly always assume the cop is 100% at fault. Always and forever.
The question those people should be asking is why so many people have began to assume the cops guilt at the onset of these incidents? You should be asking yourself what is it in this country that law enforcement has done to make such a significant portion of the population, across the country, have a complete erosion in terms of trust in law enforcement?
Lost Fragment
Obsessed with 4chan
There are loads of suicides that people don't see coming for one reason or another.
Maybe moving to a new city was a sign that she was feeling better and had more energy, but not so much better that she wasn't suicidal and that energy boost led her to going through with it after being provoked by dickface cops? The energy thing is the widely accepted logic behind why antidepressants increase risk of suicide. Could've been something like that.
Or the move was a sign of desperation. Maybe a total change of environment was a desperate attempt to make herself feel better? Then she ran into those cops and welp, nuts to that idea.
Or it was neither of those things and something else. Either way, people are hella seeing what they want to see with this case.
Good post, agree with all the point as possibilities. As a European soft-prisons rehabilitation focused whatever, I guess I was trying to ask the question what could have been done to prevent this if it was a case of circumstances triggering suicidal behavior - I think the callousness of the U.S. prison system and even incarceration of suspects deserves a lot of the blame.
It is interesting that day after day there's a thread of another individual getting brutalized by police (who are also in low income jobs and having to deal with massive societal problems without often the proper training), and the debate keeps going in circles.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
I'm not necessarily weighing in on was she/wasn't she related to this article, but I will state that it is not unusual for people struggling with severe clinical depression to successfully hide key warning signs in their behaviour. Many depressed and suicidal people are very good at pretending they're not, able to seemingly live normal lives. Clinical depression leading to suicide is difficult to rationalise for someone who is not depressed, as the thoughts that lead to an action like that are inherently irrational and/or based on a muddled chemical/neurological process in the brain. The answer to "why" is one only a person who commits suicide can answer, and by then it's too late.
She has a previous suicide attempt from 2014 via pills. She reported this herself.
https://twitter.com/miyashay/status/623984155206881280/photo/1
She needed 500 dollars in bond money and her family (notably her sister) either refused to help or were not able to get the money, depending on the reports you believe. Not hard to imagine how this could very upsetting for someone sitting in jail for 3 days, especially if they are temperamental. There's so much we don't know.
http://abc13.com/news/sources-sandra-bland-mentioned-previous-suicide-attempt/872946/
Oh, and yes you do have to leave your car during a traffic stop when asked. You can make it clear that you do not consent, but if you're not complying you are opening yourself up to a lot of additional trouble. Just don't put yourself through it. What baffles me the most are the people defending her 'right' to not have to leave her car. That right does not exist in this scenario.
http://www.columbuscriminaldefensea...ng-a-traffic-stop-police-interaction-part-ix/
Baron Aloha
A Shining Example
I heard about this yesterday on NPR. Pretty sure I also heard them mention there was evidence that the video tape showing no personnel going in/out of her cell had been tampered with. It wouldn't surprise me.
Very sad and messed up.
Very sad and messed up.
TheGraykid
Member
Cop was a total dick, but she committed suicide, people need to stop with the crazy conspiracy theories. I'm waiting until there's more evidence than pop psychology and #staywoke bullshit to call people murderers.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
Yes and it's not silly
If you are stopped by the police, the officer can order you out, order you to put out any cigarettes, turn down the music, turn off the car, turn off your wipers, hand over license and proof of insurance, and more. The officer however cannot enter your vehicle and search it. If you fail to comply an officer can legally force you out and if necessary arrest you for the original violation (crime) plus any new charges. It just looks bad if you are arresting someone for a moving violation.
double jump
you haven't lived until a random little kid ask you "how do you make love".
I don't know what happened any more than anyone else but I really wish that police, even if they have a legal right(which isn't always morally right but whatever) to do something would stop and think about how their actions effect someone's life. And I don't just mean in a mental health capacity. It seems a lot of police bring you in knowing you're getting out and charges aren't going to stick and they do it basically as punishment. And if this were a perfect world, fine whatever, but it's not. Not only is not everyone mentally able to handle that stress but some employers flat out wont put up with it and you run the risk of throwing people's lives into a downward spiral over petty verbal arguments, traffic violations and the like. It just isn't right. This isn't like swats in high school. going to jail even just to get released and have your record cleared can fuck up your life and is that something that needs to be on the table for everything no matter how petty? I don't think so.
Locke Lamora
Member
#4 is bullshit though. There are plenty of people who hanged themselves from a door knob.
Vicetrailia
Banned
Now it looks like she did commit suicide, but it's all the polices fault for making bitch ass arrests and power tripping, thus leading to this. She felt incredibly wronged, and thought that she would lose everything due to being in jail. Her "offenses" are so minor that I thought the judge would let her out within the first 12 hours or day.
Random Painted HIghway
Member
Start with a person with recent history of depression including a recent, within the year, suicide attempt. She's 28 and trying to get her life on track, moving back to her college town for a fresh start. On the eve of starting the new job she gets pulled over and arrested for resisting law enforcement. She gets roughed up physically but not to the point of her wanting medical attention. She then spends Saturday and Sunday in jail because her family is unable to post the Bond required to get her out. In those days between the arrest and her demise she has limited human contact, certainly limited on a quality if not quantity level. With little else to seize on, Her mind begins to wander to her new job, is it at jeopardy due to the arrest? After all, she hasn't started the job yet and it's with a public institution that may have rules on hirees who have pending criminal cases. In the absence of her familial support system, they are in Illinois, and in a state of mental solitude, she returns to some of her darkest thoughts of earlier in the year when she lost her baby. She knows where she has been arrested, she knows how minorities fare in Waller county on this type of charge. She knows it doesn't matter that the officer abused both her and procedures. She sees her reimagined life gone. All the work at recovering from the loss of her baby, the decisions to reinvent herself back at her alma mater, destroyed in the blink of an eye. What's her next move? She's 28 and no longer a kid who made a mistake. Now she's got pending charges, maybe they'll file a felony assault on a police officer. Everything crashing down again but no family to lean on, just the darkness of ones own thoughts. She notices that trash can with bag in the cell and decides that she can't take any more hits, she is done. Add in a jail that has been cited for poor population control that was informed of her mental history yet chose not to put her on watch and you have the recipe for disaster.
That is just me walking through known facts and putting myself in her mental state, at least in the bleakest possibility of her mental state and only focusing on a suicide theory. I've never been in jail as an inmate but I'm an attorney who has represented hundreds of folks who have been detained for more than just processing time. I have had many a client under supervision due to concerns, including one housed in a rubber room with a straight jacket, he was purportedly normal before his arrest, he was not when I met him. Talk to the family members and friends of those folks and most had no clue that their loved ones were harboring thoughts of self injury, particularly if they weren't aware of the failed suicide attempts. Who after all is really open with their parents about these things (and at the same time, whose parents are receptive to this and not downplay or ignore things). Jail does things to normal people, put someone with a history such as Ms. Blands, and add in a questionable arrest and put her in a shoddy jail system and you can get a jail suicide. Did you get a jail suicide in this case? One autopsy that hasn't been released says yes, but we know the independent autopsy will be released soon as well and perhaps a third by the fbi.
Anon doesn't have shit.
Sho_Nuff82
Member
Is this the official twitter feed of Anonymous?
Just catching up with this story, this is kind of wild.
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