Police conduct again questioned: #tellusatoday

Sandra Bland, who was arrested after a traffic stop on July 10 in Waller County, Texas, was found dead in her cell three days later. She apparently hanged herself. Letter to the editor:

After watching the arrest video, it is apparent what happened. It is a classic altercation between a young black woman from the North who is used to having some rights, and a white policeman from the South.

The arrest was low key until she sassed him. He did not know how to handle that, and he lost it. This officer decided to reestablish “Southern order.” The more she didn’t comply, the angrier he got. What happened after the arrest is unclear. Why is there jail video only of them going down the hallway, but no video of her in her cell?

Curtis Freeberg; Byron, Ill.

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

If you want respect, you need to give respect. Sandra Bland appeared combative from the start. Had she simply complied with the officer, she would have gotten off with a warning.

— Stephen Smith

This officer was out of control. I’m sure he has been trained to deal with angry motorists. He shouldn’t have asked her what was wrong if he didn’t want to know. She was respectful to him until he got pissed. Bland never should have been arrested.

— Gale Clemons

Bland was totally out of control. I’m sorry she’s dead, but the video speaks for itself. Why do people always want to blame the police?

— Susie Aguilar Fernandez

I believe Bland did commit suicide as a final act of defiance. She wanted to create one more controversy concerning police.

— Valerie Ann Clark

That officer had no reason to arrest her or order her out of her car simply because she was being rude.

If he can’t do his job and write someone a ticket while ignoring a bad attitude, he has no business in a position of authority over the public. This isn’t Nazi Germany, and we don’t have to bow and scrape to police so they leave us alone.

— Loretta Riley

‘She was emotionally fragile’

We asked our followers: Despite an autopsy and video footage, why do questions remain in Sandra Bland’s death? Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

The questions remain because there are no acceptable answers. Who can really trust police answers about their own conduct?

— @fshirley48

Why don’t police use wider angle cameras? Why not address racist biases?

— @woodwardsarrow

It’s conspiracy theory at its finest. She was emotionally fragile by her own admission.

— @GgSkleeners

There is a systemic problem of police targeting black Americans. The Department of Justice must launch an investigation.

— @JeffOstach

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion and #tellusatoday on Twitter.