It doesn't matter whether you feel he escalated the issue...
It
does matter,
in fact, Encina's behavior is the very crux of the matter in this incident, something you and other posters have energetically tried to dismiss or ignore or divert from. Trooper Encina deliberately and repeatedly TROLLED and tried to provoke Sandra Bland until he got the situation he wanted.
You guys are all internet veterans whove encountered plenty of sly trolls, so you cant
legitimately pretend you dont see this.
The timeline is beyond clear. Encina comes back with the warning for her to sign. Shes giving no lip, no arguing, nothing. All he has to have Bland sign the ticket warning for this most minor of infractions and the whole incident is over.
INSTEAD, he deliberately and repeatedly trolls her, trying to get a rise, looking for an excuse to yank her out of the car
FIRST TROLL ATTEMPT:
Encinia: OK, ma'am. (Pause.) You OK?
Bland: I'm waiting on you. This is your job. I'm waiting on you. When're you going to let me go?
Hes got the ticket, but, yeah, hes really concerned with her state of mind, even though shes not acting out AT ALL and all he has to do is just hand her the goddamn ticket. Note, in this exhcange, while shes not obsequious or elaborately deferential towards him,there is NOTHING legally or personally out of hand with her response.
So he goes to
TROLL ATTEMPT NUMBER TWO:
(Ok, many of you who wish to deny that this trooper deliberately instigated the violence that occurred will stoutly aver there was nothing untoward in his first attempt to get a rise out of her. But this second one. Cmon guys, you know a sly asshole troll when you see one in action.)
Encinia: I don't know, you seem very really irritated.
Bland: I am. I really am. I feel like it's crap what I'm getting a ticket for. I was getting out of your way. You were speeding up, tailing me, so I move over and you stop me. So yeah, I am a little irritated, but that doesnt stop you from giving me a ticket, so [inaudible] ticket.
Hey, I dont know, posters who somehow think Bland wasn't the victim here,
you seem really irritated.
Again, all who seem blind this and wish to place the main blame on the now dead Sandra Bland,
please take note that the very worst word she used was crap. Now, thats a paddling!
TROLL ATTEMPT NUMBER THREE:
(Having not (yet) deliberately provoked this young woman into crossing the line so he can fuck with her futher, he goes full troll. Never go full troll, its too obvious . . . unless, of course, you are one of the many apologist/denial posters here.)
Encinia: Are you done?
Bland: You asked me what was wrong, now I told you.
Encinia: OK.
Bland: So now I'm done, yeah.
Now she's done, give her the goddamn ticket to sign, troll! But no, the bully won't stop until he's found a troll excuse to get at her:
TROLL ATTEMPT NUMBER FOUR, SUCCESS!
Encinia: You mind putting out your cigarette, please? If you don't mind?
Bland: I'm in my car, why do I have to put out my cigarette?
Encinia: Well you can step on out now.
Still want to focus on blaming Sandra Bland? Then note that when she exits the car,
he illegally orders her to stop filming the encounter and to put her phone down,
and she complies!!
Just imagine how different things would have been had she put out her cigarette...
Yeah, what bullshit troll provocation would Bully Boy Trooper Encina have come up with next?