STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Texas Jail Says They Are Not Liable for Sandra Bland's Death

The Waller County jail is not liable for the death of Sandra Bland in a cell back in June 2013, their attorneys say. Therefore, officials want a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bland's family against the jail to be dropped. Waller County officials continue to stand by their claim that Bland's death was a suicide in a 39-page document they filed to a federal judge on Veteran's Day.

The Waller County jail is not liable for the death of Sandra Bland in a cell back in June 2013, their attorneys say. Therefore, officials want a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bland's family against the jail to be dropped.

Waller County officials continue to stand by their claim that Bland's death was suicide in a 39-page document they filed to a federal judge on Veteran's Day.
The lawsuit against Waller County by Bland's mother says that jailers were "negligent, willful, wanton and reckless ... in failing to keep her in a safe and suitable environment where she could be kept free from injury, harm and death," the Houston Chronicle reports.  
On Friday, July 10, police stopped Bland for allegedly signaling a lane change 
improperly. A video captured by a bystander shows police using excessive force to arrest her. She was forced out of her vehicle and slammed on the ground according her friend, Malcolm Jackson.

Bland could be heard yelling to an officer, "You just slammed my head into the ground," in the video. Bland continued, "Do you not even care about that? I can't even hear." Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith said Bland "had been combative on the side of the road," according to ABC13.com

Around 9 a.m. the following Monday, authorities found Bland unresponsive and performed CPR on her. She was pronounced dead shortly after, according to a statement released by the Waller County Sheriff's Office. 

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world.
(Photo: Courtesy of Bland family)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.