Sandra Bland's family sues Texas police

Legal action comes three weeks after Sandra Bland died in police custody

The family of a black woman who died in police custody is suing the arresting officer and other Texas authorities.

Sandra Bland died three days after a physical confrontation with a white police officer during a traffic stop.

Police say that Bland hanged herself while being held in the Waller county jail. The family have denied that she was suicidal.

In the last 12 months, the death of black Americans in police custody has caused debate and protests.

An official post-mortem examination report found that Bland had hanged herself while in her cell.

The wrongful death lawsuit was announced in Houston by the family of the 28-year-old Chicago native.

In it, they name State Trooper Brian Encinia, the Texas Department of Public Safety in Waller County, the county's sheriff's department and two jailers as defendants.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages "for egregious acts and omissions" and alleges Mr Encinia falsified an assault allegation to take Bland into custody.

The jail is accused of being "reckless" in disregarding her safety and failing to keep her free from harm.

Dashcam footage captured Trooper Encinia threatening to use his stun gun

Bland's family deny she was suicidal

Dashcam video shows Bland's car being pulled over on 10 July for failing to signal during a lane change.

An argument began after Bland was asked to put out her cigarette and demanding she get out of her car.

Mr Encinia, 30, then points his stun gun at Bland, telling her "I will light you up" after she refuses his orders.

Bland was arrested for assaulting an officer. On 13 July she was found dead in her jail cell.

The Texas Department of Public Safety had previously said that Trooper Encinia had acted improperly during the stop.

Protestors from the "Black Lives Matter" movement have been holding rallies around the US to demand answers from Texas authorities.