Sandra Bland, 28, was an African American woman who lived in Chicago.
She recently moved to Texas
to start a new job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University.
She was driving near the college on July 10, when she was pulled over.
The officer was white, a Texas State trooper Brian Encinia, who had worked there for a year.
He said he pulled her over for not signaling a lane change.
She said she didn't signal because he came up on her so fast, she didn't have time.
What I'm saying here came from the video of the incident.
The officer ordered her to put out her cigarette.
She questioned why she had to do that while sitting in her own car.
He then ordered her out of the car. She asked why, and didn't see why she needed to get out.
He pulled the door open and yanked on her, saying he would drag her out.
She protested and said since she wasn't under arrest, he shouldn't be touching her.
The officer then pointed a Taser at her and said, "I'll light you up!"
The confrontation went on and she was arrested for assaulting a public servant.
She was brought to the Waller County jail.
Three days later, she was found dead, hanged with a plastic trash bag. It was said to be suicide.
Family, friends and others found that hard to believe.
Her family said she was excited about her new job and the move to Texas.
She wasn't depressed, and hadn't taken medication for depression in the past.
They did say she had her ups and downs just like anyone else.
The officer's report was released on July 21, and did not match the video.
He said he pulled her over for the lane change violation and asked her to get out
to further investigate. She became combative and uncooperative.
She refused orders to get out, and when he tried to remove her from the car,
a fight ensued and he had to handcuff her.
She hit him with her elbows and kicked him, so he took her down to the ground.
She continued to fight. He said his leg hurt and he had small cuts on his hands.
The video that had been released appeared to have edits in it.
Her family protested and said they wanted to see the unedited video.
It was reported on July 21 the full 52 minute video was released.
The video showed the officer didn't include everything in his report.
Democratic State Senator Royce West saw the video.
He said the officer did threaten her with the Taser.
He said it was obvious from the video that this was a simple traffic stop.
There was no reason for it to escalate. There was no reason she had to put her cigarette out.
He questioned why she was ordered out of the car and threatened with a Taser.
It was just a simple stop over a blinker.
The officer's report made no mention of the Taser, and didn't explain why he wanted her out.
West said the video showed she did nothing wrong.
After she was taken to the ground, the action was out of the frame, but there was audio.
She's heard yelling the officer smashed her head on the ground.
When a female officer arrives, he tells her she yanked away and kicked him so he took her down.
Later on, the officer's voice is heard as he talks on the phone to someone.
He says he tried to de-escalate the situation, but she was out of control.
Then a tow truck driver is seen walking in and out of camera range, and the video ends.
It was 52 minutes long.
After the release, people accused Texas Public Safety of editing the orignal video.
The department denied that, saying there were technical issues with the first upload.
The second upload produced the full video. People are not so sure that's true.
The same day, July 21, police and politicians met to discuss the case.
When she was arrested, she was brought to the jail and asked questions for intake.
She stated she had tried to kill herself earlier this year, and did not feel suicidal now.
Elton Mathis is the district attorney for Waller County.
He said her death at the jail was being investigated.
The trashbag would be examined for DNA and fingerprints.
The circumstances of her arrest would also be looked into.
He said he knew people wanted to know, so a full investigation would take place,
then presented to the grand jury, and then the public would be notified.
The Texas Rangers are conducting the investigation under the oversight of the FBI.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the FBI was overseeing it and she was awaiting results.
Officer Encinia is now on administrative duty until the investigation is over.
The Texas Public Safety department said Encinia did not follow protocol.
Officers are to act professional and polite, and he obviously did not.
We'll have to wait and see if anything happens to him later on.
An autopsy was conducted and the death was ruled a suicide by hanging.
There were no defensive bruises on her arms and hands so she wasn't forcibly hanged.
The family did not accept that, and asked for a second, independent autopsy.
We'll find out later if the results are the same or not.
The jail had surveillance cameras but they were not in the cell, just in the hallway.
It showed officers checking in on her and coming and going.
At 7:55 am she called the control room to find out how to make a phone call.
Then just before 9 am, a female officer is seen looking in the room, seeing her hanged,
and calling for help. CPR was performed and the video showed all the commotion.
More details will be coming out later.
Her sister, Sharon Cooper, said she was pulled over for a little blinker and arrested for nothing.
She said the officer felt insulted and responded with oppression.
He never said he felt threatened. The whole thing was ridiculous.
The funeral was held in Illinois, and many came.
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