A black father-of-two died when deputies used a Taser on him while he screamed 'I can't breathe!' during filming of the police...
A black father-of-two died when deputies used a Taser on him while he screamed 'I can't breathe!' during filming of the police TV show Live PD - raising concerns that officers are prioritizing reality show fame over citizens' lives.
Javier Ambler II of Killeen, Texas, was driving home from playing poker with friends in the early hours of March 28, 2019, when failed to dim the headlights of his SUV to oncoming traffic.
Williamson County Sheriff's deputy J.J. Johnson pursued him over the minor traffic violation for nearly 30 minutes after Ambler reportedly refused to pull over.
The pursuit came to an end with Ambler, a 40-year-old former postal worker, pleading to deputies that couldn't breathe and that he had congestive heart failure while cameras from A&E Networks reality show 'Live PD' rolled. It does not appear the footage ever aired.
Newly released police body camera footage shows Ambler telling deputies 'I can't breathe' and that he has congestive heart failure as they deploy Tasers at him
Javier Ambler (pictured) was a former postal worker and father-of-two when he died while in police custody last March in Austin, Texas
He wept 'save me' seconds before a final Taser shock was released.
An autopsy revealed that he died by homicide. It was congestive heart failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease linked with morbid obesity 'in combination with forcible restraint.'
Investigators in the case have long accused Live PD producers and Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody of undermining attempts to obtain evidence, but newly released body cam footage obtained by The Statesman and KVUE show the disturbing final moments of Ambler's life.
'It is of very serious concern to any of us who are in law enforcement that the decision to engage in that chase was driven by more of a need to provide entertainment than to keep Williamson County citizens safe,' Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore told The Statesman.
Although the incident occurred last March, footage was not released until this month to The Statesman and KVUE - stoking accusations of stonewalling from Live PD producers and authorities
After a Taser gun was deployed for a fourth time, Ambler's body goes limp and he's unresponsive. It's not only later that deputies discover he has no pulse
The investigation into Ambler's death comes as protests over the death of George Floyd, an African-American man in Minnesota who also died in police custody, have rallied across the United States and the world.
The circumstances of Ambler's death, which were only revealed after repeated pressure from media groups, suggests a blatant lack in transparency and officer accountability.
Questions over the police department's accountability are reportedly exacerbated by the presence of Live PD, a popular cable series that have camera crews capture law enforcement working in real time as they patrol their communities.
In the past Live PD, and similar shows like Paramount Network's Cops, have faced criticism for it's depiction of law enforcement and concerning off-air practices.
Some critics have suggested that camera crews could retrospectively cut out any content that would portray law enforcement in a negative light. Others argued that cameras encourage officers to ignore normal police protocol to create drama for America's top cable network series.
Deputy J.J. Johnson (pictured) of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office pursued Ambler because he failed to dim his headlights for oncoming vehicles, according to The Statesman
Local officials are reportedly concerned by the deputy's decision to pursue Ambler so fiercely and use a Taser gun more than once over a minor traffic violation.
On that tragic March night, footage obtained that night shows Deputy J.J. Johnson, who regularly appears on Live PD, patrolling a suburban area just north of Austin with Live PD camera crews in tow.
Ambler in his SUV passed by Johnson with his brights on around 1.23am, prompting the deputy to turn his vehicle around and flip on his police lights.
For 22 minutes the two vehicles speed through central Texas, with Johnson narrating the chase for the camera crew, according to The Statesman.
As the two cross over into Travis County, Austin officers were reportedly told not to get involved because they're only allowed to chase dangerous suspects.
Pictured: Javier Ambler and his son, J'Vaughn, posing together fora family photo before the March 2019 incident
Ambler's Honda Pilot SUV crashes into objects four times before a final collision just east of Interstate 35 at 1.45am.
Johnson, who had not additional backup at the moment, brandishes his gun and orders Ambler to exit his SUV, raise his hands and get on the ground.
Ambler, a 400-pound former high school football player, follows Johnson's orders. Johnson then pulls out his Taser.
Johnson yells for him to 'get down' several times, but deploys his taser after Ambler reportedly appeared to turn towards his car, according to an internal investigative report obtained by The Statesman,
Ambler then fell to one knee, rolled onto the ground and appeared to attempt to stand.
'You’ll get it again,' Johnson yells, apparently referring to the Taser gun.
Backup Deputy Zachary Camden, who was also accompanied by a Live PD crew, arrives and shoves his Taser into Ambler's back.
Ambler is hit with a Taser a third time, but the report reportedly revealed it was unclear which deputy deployed his Taser.
'Give me your hands or I'm going to tase you again!' one deputy shouts.
Ambler pleads with the deputies and reveals his health conditions.
'Sir, I have congestive heart failure,' he says. 'I can't breathe. Please.'
The deputies demand that Ambler stop resisting, to which he replies in gasps 'I'm not resisting!'
'Save me,' Ambler cries. He repeats that he can't breathe, but a Taser is deployed a fourth and final time.
Ambler's body goes limp and deputies place him in handcuffs. It's only moments later that they realize Ambler is unresponsive and has no pulse. Deputies performed CPR until medics arrive.
Doctors at Dell Seton Medical Center kept Ambler alive for 50 minutes before he was pronounced dead at 2.37am.
Deputies performed CPR on Ambler (pictured) until medical personnel arrived later and took over
A death-in-custody report filed with the Texas attorney general's office said Ambler was not violent with deputies, did not attempt to escape, threaten them or try to obtain their weapons at any point during the incident.
At most, Ambler would have faced 10 years maximum in prison for the low-level felony of evading arrest.
Protocols implemented by Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody one month after Ambler's death said a car chase can be justified when deputies believe that person has committed a crime 'or which there is an immediate need for apprehension.'
An internal affairs investigation that year found that Johnson and other deputies had not violated the department's use-of-force policies.
Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody has faced criticism for allowing Live PD to film his department
The Austin Police Department Special Investigation Unit is investigating the case with District Attorney Margaret Moore Civil Rights Unit.
The Statesman said that the Williamson County Sheriff's Office ignored attempts from local media networks to obtain records on the incident. The Austin Police Department later allowed them to be shared.
Information regarding Ambler's death was reportedly so concealed that Ambler's parents, Maritza and Javier Sr., had no idea the incident was even spawned by a traffic violation until last week.
'He’s dead. How?' said Martiza in a recent interview with The Statesman. 'I can’t have any closure because I need to know.'
She told The Stateman that she's had nightmares that her son met the same heartbreaking death as Floyd.
'I woke up, and I wasn’t able to see, but he came to me and he wanted to tell me. He wanted to show me what happened to him.'
Moore said that she will present the Ambler's case to a grand jury and will seek permission to have them convene before August.
Chody told The Statesman that during his time in office, he's tried to transform the department's tradition of 'chase until the wheels fall off and encouraged deputies to end chases. He also said he's increased oversight of pursuits.
After Ambler's death, Chody released a statement on Twitter that said an investigation was underway by the WCSO and APD
The International Association of Chiefs of Police only recommends chases when 'the suspect, if allowed to flee, would present a danger to human life or cause serious injury.'
No records thus far indicate the Ambler was in any way violent or dangerous. He was previously convicted on a marijuana charged in 2001 and driving with an invalid license in 2004.
But the incident has furthered friction between Chody and local Williamson County commissioners over the department's appearances on Live PD.
No records thus far indicate the Ambler was in any way violent or dangerous during the March incident
An autopsy revealed that Ambler died in a homicide with congestive heart failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease linked with morbid obesity 'in combination with forcible restraint.'
Williamson County commissioners initially ended its contract with Live PD in 2019 after concerns were raised, but Chody signed his own agreement with producers to allow the show to continue filming his department in March 2020.
The commissioners issued a 'cease and desist' order in response. Chody refused to comply and he was sued by the county in May.
'Sheriff Chody can perform the core duties of sheriff without the live TV show,' the lawsuit read, according to The Statesman.
'But he doesn’t want to. Instead, Sheriff Chody seeks social media and TV exposure like a moth to a light bulb – and he’s flown out of his job description to get back on TV.'
The Amblers family is now begging the Williamson County Sheriff's Office to reform its current policies and want answers about their son's death.
'Dads should not have to bury their sons,' said Ambler Sr. 'This has got to stop.'
It was announced last week that the show would not air new episodes on Friday and Saturday.
Repeat episodes of the spin-off Live Rescue, which follows emergency rescue units and fire departments, will play in its place.
'Out of respect for the families of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives, in consultation with the departments we follow, and in consideration for the safety of all involved, we have made the decision not to broadcast Live PD this weekend,' A&E Network said in a statement.
As of Saturday evening, the network still has new episodes scheduled to premier June 12 and 13.
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