A Texas sheriff says Sandra Blandthe 28-year-old black woman found dead in her jail cell last weekadmitted to her jailers that she had tried to commit suicide the previous year. Still, her guards say they still declined to put her on a suicide watch because she didnt seem depressed.
Bland was arrested June 10 after failing to signal while changing lanes. The seemingly routine traffic stop reportedly escalated when Bland refused to put out a cigarette, infuriating the officer. She was arrested and found dead in her jail cell three days later.
Officials say she self-asphyxiated using a plastic trash bag. Her family has challenged that assertion, saying that they are confident Blandwho had recently accepted a new job at her alma materwas killed and did not take her own life.
But according to the New York Times, which obtained a copy of the jails intake form, Bland did admit some history of suicidal behavior, indicating that she had attempted suicide in 2014 after having a miscarriage.
The Waller County sheriff, R. Glenn Smith, said in an interview that Ms. Bland had mentioned a suicide attempt during interviews with two officials who processed her entry into the jail on July 10. Sheriff Smith said that jailers had elected not to place a suicide watch on her cell after she told them that she was not depressed at the time, but was just angry about her detention.
In addition, the authorities late on Wednesday released the 15-page jail-booking screening form, which included questions about Ms. Blands mental health. On the form, the yes box was checked in response to the question, Have you ever been depressed? On whether she had ever attempted suicide, the form noted yes, in 2014, by using pills because of a lost baby.
A lawyer for Blands family tells the New York Times they were unaware of her alleged attempt and have no evidence to indicate she was depressed or suicidal. Her death is currently being investigated as a potential murder.
