No, the Grand jury did not indict Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia on any wrong doing in Sandra Bland’s death, but he was indicted on a perjury charge, for falsifying information about why Bland was stopped and removed from her vehicle.
Special prosecutor Shawn McDonald said Wednesday outside the courthouse that “the indictment was issued in reference to the reasoning that (Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia) removed her from her vehicle.”
He explained the grand jury didn’t believe Encinia’s statement that he took her from the car she was driving so he could conduct a safer traffic investigation.
The penalty for perjury, a Class A misdemeanor, is up to a year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said after the indictment was announced that it will begin termination proceedings against the trooper.
