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| Sandra Bland 'left voicemail' before death in Texas jail | Sandra Bland 'left voicemail' before death in Texas jail |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Sandra Bland, a Texas woman who police say took her own life while in custody, phoned a friend from jail to say she was "at a loss" over her arrest. | Sandra Bland, a Texas woman who police say took her own life while in custody, phoned a friend from jail to say she was "at a loss" over her arrest. |
| In a voicemail obtained by the US TV network ABC, Bland said she could not understand why a traffic violation had led to her detention. | |
| The 28-year-old African-American was arrested after a confrontation with the policeman who had pulled her car over. | The 28-year-old African-American was arrested after a confrontation with the policeman who had pulled her car over. |
| She was found dead three days later. | She was found dead three days later. |
| In the message to a friend she said: "I'm still just at a loss for words, honestly, about this whole process. How did switching lanes with no signal turn into all of this?" | In the message to a friend she said: "I'm still just at a loss for words, honestly, about this whole process. How did switching lanes with no signal turn into all of this?" |
| Her family have rejected the findings of a coroner's report, which says Ms Bland hanged herself in her cell at Waller County jail. | Her family have rejected the findings of a coroner's report, which says Ms Bland hanged herself in her cell at Waller County jail. |
| 'Not depressed' | 'Not depressed' |
| The voice message lasted for about 22 seconds and was made after an initial court appearance following her arrest on 10 July, ABC reports. | The voice message lasted for about 22 seconds and was made after an initial court appearance following her arrest on 10 July, ABC reports. |
| It was one of three calls made by Bland that day. The others were to her sister and a bail bondsman. | |
| On Wednesday it emerged Bland had told a guard during the booking process that she had previously attempted suicide. | |
| Sheriff Glenn Smith said the comments were made after she was asked a series of questions that are posed to every person who is detained at the jail. | Sheriff Glenn Smith said the comments were made after she was asked a series of questions that are posed to every person who is detained at the jail. |
| Mr Smith said another guard had also spoken to Bland. She told him she was upset but not depressed and both jailers insisted she appeared fine at the time. | Mr Smith said another guard had also spoken to Bland. She told him she was upset but not depressed and both jailers insisted she appeared fine at the time. |
| State officials and the FBI are investigating her death. | State officials and the FBI are investigating her death. |
| A video of the arrest shows white police officer Brian Encinia giving Bland a warning. The situation quickly escalates, with Mr Encinia appearing to threaten Bland after she refuses to get out of her car. | |
| He unsuccessfully tries to pull her out and tells her "I will light you up". | He unsuccessfully tries to pull her out and tells her "I will light you up". |
| Cannon Lambert, the lawyer representing Bland's family, said relatives have "no evidence" that she previously attempted suicide and denied she was suffering from depression. | Cannon Lambert, the lawyer representing Bland's family, said relatives have "no evidence" that she previously attempted suicide and denied she was suffering from depression. |
| He also said the dashcam video of the arrest, which was released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), showed that Bland's death "could have easily been avoided". | He also said the dashcam video of the arrest, which was released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), showed that Bland's death "could have easily been avoided". |
| Officer Encinia, who has been on the force for just over a year, said he was kicked during the arrest. He has been put on administrative leave. | Officer Encinia, who has been on the force for just over a year, said he was kicked during the arrest. He has been put on administrative leave. |
| Bland's death is one of several cases under scrutiny in the US, in which a black person has died while in police custody. |