A Texas state trooper was charged with perjury on Wednesday for his conduct during a July traffic stop with a woman who was later found dead in her jail cell.
A Houston grand jury indicted Trooper Brian Encinia for lying about his interaction with 28-year-old Sandra Bland, including how he removed the woman from her vehicle.
Dash cam footage from the incident showed Encinia threatened an uncooperative Bland by telling her, “I will light you up,” after she refused to get out of her car.
Bland had been arrested for assault after fighting police officers at the scene and was found dead in her cell three days after being booked. Officials ruled her death a suicide.
Wednesday’s indictment is not expected to lead to charges that he is responsible for Bland’s death. Last month, a grand jury found insufficient reason to indict the sheriff’s officials and jailers in Bland’s death.
