Perjury Charge Dropped Against Sandra Bland Officer

Officials have dropped perjury charges against the Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who arrested Sandra Bland in 2015. Brian Encinia arrested the black motorist after pulling her over for failing to signal a lane change. She was found dead three days later in a Waller County jail cell. Her death—and dash-camera footage of her arrest—sparked national outrage. Encinia was indicted in January 2016 on a perjury charge for allegedly lying in a report about Bland’s arrest. Waller County District Judge Albert McCaig dropped the charge against Encinia on Wednesday at the prosecution’s request, when the now-fired trooper agreed to give up his police license—and never solicit another job in law enforcement.