Stephanie Whitfield

KHOU-TV, Houston

HOUSTON — A Texas state trooper was indicted on perjury charges Wednesday in the case of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was arrested after a traffic stop, then died at the Waller County Jail three days later.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said later Wednesday that it has begun the process of discharging Trooper Brian Encinia.

Encinia was charged with the misdemeanor count, alleging he lied about how he removed Bland from her vehicle during the July traffic stop. He could get up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if convicted.

Dash cam video shows the traffic stop in which Encinia pulled Bland over for an improper lane change near Prairie View A&M University. The traffic stop escalated, and there was a struggle before Bland is taken into custody.

Bland died at the Waller County Jail three days later. Investigators said she was found hanging in her cell. The Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide.

The grand jury decided two weeks ago not to charge anyone at the jail in Bland's death.

Special prosecutors said Bland's arrest is the last issue the grand jury will need to discuss in this case.

"We won't get into specifics of the evidence, we can't do that,” special prosecutor Lewis White said. “We can tell you that everything we've gotten, we've shown to the grand jury. That includes dash cam footage. That includes footage from the jail. That includes everything we've received.”

No charges in Sandra Bland jailhouse death

Neither Bland’s attorneys nor the Texas Department of Public Safety immediately returned messages seeking comment about the indictment. Department Director Steve McCraw said after the incident that Encinia violated internal agency policies of professionalism and courtesy.

Contributing: KVUE-TV, Austin; The Associated Press