TROOPER IN BLAND CASE PREVIOUSLY DISCIPLINED

  

The Texas DPS trooper who arrested a Chicago-area area woman after a confrontation that began with a traffic stop had been cautioned about "unprofessional conduct" in a 2014 incident while he was still a probationary trooper.

According to the Associated Press, the disciplinary entry regarding Trooper Brian Encinia, was contained in his personnel file.

The department released the file Friday in response to Freedom of Information requests.

Encinia arrested Sandra Bland back on July 10th. She was found dead in a jail cell in Hempstead on July 13th. Officials say she used a plastic bag to hang herself.

Encinia's performance evaluation for September and October 2014 referred to him receiving "a written counseling for unprofessional conduct ... occurring while at a school in Austin."

The circumstances of that conduct weren't specified.