#SayHerName: This Officer Was Silenced by Prosecutors for Exposing Sandra Bland Cover-Up
A Texas police officer has claimed that he was threatened by prosecutors when he attempted to reveal information regarding the Sandra Bland case.
Bland was arrested by Trooper Brian Encinia and brought to a Texas jail. Three days after she was booked, she was found dead in her cell. Officer Michael Kelley, who was present during the time Bland was booked, wanted to speak before the grand jury regarding bruising that he noticed on Bland’s face.
Kelley claimed that he noticed marks on Bland’s forehead from an altercation between her and Encinia. He then claimed they forbade him from speaking to the Bland family’s attorney and said that if he moved forward with his remarks, there would be consequences.
However, prosecutors have denied all the claims made by Kelley. Prosecutors have said that they believe he is presenting this information as a way to distract from the current charges he faces.
Kelley is currently suspended from the Prairie View Police Department for being captured on video using a Taser on a Black city councilman. He is also being indicted for an unlawful arrest. Yet, Kelley additionally claimed that the latter indictment came as an act of retaliation for his whistle blowing.
"I unequivocally state that he never approached me, my first assistant, or any member of my staff with any such information. I can only imagine this is an attempt to divert attention [from Kelley's case].”
Kelley’s allegations will be added to the already existing thoughts that the death of Sandra Bland has not been properly investigated.
"I didn't become a cop to become shady like a lot of officers," Kelley told the Associated Press. "I became a cop to do justice and to try to change the community which I work in."
