WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The video of US activist Sandra Bland’s police arrest was not edited before its release to the public, Texas Department of Public Safety Press Secretary Tom Vinger told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“The entire video was uploaded to include the audio and video of the conversation the trooper had by telephone with his sergeant, which occurred after the arrest,” Vinger said. “The video has not been edited.”
On July 10, Bland’s car was pulled over for failing to signal by a Texas state trooper. He arrested the 28-year-old after they had an altercation. Bland appeared to have hanged herself three days later while she was confined in a cell. Her relatives have demanded an investigation.
Vinger went on by saying some of Bland’s arrest video was affected during the upload process and the department is working to repost the dash cam video.
He added that the US Department of Public Safety (DPS) has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to examine the arrest video to ensure its reliability.
“To eliminate any concerns as to the efficacy of the video DPS previously requested the FBI examine the dash cam and jail video to ensure the integrity of the video,” the press secretary said.
Both the Waller County Sheriff’s office and the FBI Houston office declined to provide comments to Sputnik.
The suspicious suicide of the African-American woman in police custody has reignited concerns over US police violence that triggered waves of protests across the United States over the past year.
