HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) — The latest on the investigation into the death of a woman who authorities say hanged herself in a Texas jail cell (all times are local):
4:15 p.m.
The Texas jail under scrutiny for the death of a woman found hanging in her cell was cited three years ago by a state agency for improperly monitoring prisoners.
The Texas Commission of Jail Standards inspected the Waller County jail after James Howell hanged himself with a bedsheet in November 2012. The commission found the jail was not checking all inmates at least once an hour, as required by law.
The Texas Rangers and FBI are investigating the death of 28-year-old Sandra Bland. Authorities say she hanged herself in her cell Monday, though her family says it’s unimaginable that she would have killed herself. She recently moved to Texas from Illinois and was due to start a new job.
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3 p.m.
A woman found dead in a Texas cell after an arrest that began with a traffic stop was outspoken about racism and police brutality.
On her Facebook page, Sandra Bland posted a series of videos of herself delivering monologues she titled “Sandy Speaks.” In the videos, Bland describes feeling called by God to speak out against racism and injustice. In a video posted earlier this year, she talks about the power of social media to bring about change.
In place of a profile picture she had posted the statement: “Now legalize being black in America.” Her family’s attorney confirmed it was her Facebook page.
Authorities say she hanged herself. She was found dead in her cell on Monday. Her family says it’s unimaginable that she would have killed herself.
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2:30 p.m.
The sister of a woman found dead in a Texas jail cell says she spoke to her by phone after the arrest, which began with a minor traffic violation.
Shante Needham says her sister, Sandra Bland, told her the arresting officer pushed his knees into her back and that she believed her arm was broken.
Needham told reporters in Chicago her sister was “very aggravated” and seemed to be in pain when she called on Saturday, a day after the arrest. Needham says she reassured her sister that she would work to get her released on bail.
Authorities say Bland kicked an officer during the arrest.
Cannon Lambert, an attorney hired by the family, says it would have been uncharacteristic of Bland to “strike out” at someone without any provocation.
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2:15 p.m.
Family members of a woman who authorities say hanged herself in a Texas county jail say she gave no indication that she was in such an emotional state that she would kill herself.
Sharon Cooper of Naperville, Illinois, said at a news conference in Chicago that it’s “unfathomable” that her sister, Sandra Bland, would have killed herself.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the circumstances of her death. Bland was found dead Monday in a Waller County jail cell in Hempstead, about 60 miles northwest of Houston.
She had been pulled over Friday for failing to signal a lane change and was arrested on a charge of assaulting a public servant.
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