Body camera: Dying man pleads ‘save me’ as deputies Tase him

AUSTIN, Texas — A black man died in custody last year after sheriff’s deputies in Texas repeatedly used stun guns on him, despite his pleas that he was sick and couldn’t breathe, according to recently released police video and documents.

Williamson County deputies pulled over 40-year-old Javier Ambler on March 28, 2019, near downtown Austin because he failed to dim his headlights to oncoming traffic, according to an exclusive report by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV. The deputies were being filmed for A&E Network’s real-time police show “Live PD,” a feature of the arrest that prosecutors said is particularly troubling.

The report on Ambler’s death was published Monday as thousands paid their respects to George Floyd at a church in Houston.

Police body camera video of Ambler’s death, released to the Statesman under the Texas Public Information Act, shows the gasping 400-pound man telling the deputies he wants to comply with their demands but that he can’t because he has congestive heart failure.

“I am not resisting,”

Ambler cries. “Sir, I can’t breathe. … Please. … Please.”

Deputies yell for him to put his arms behind his back

“Save me,” he pleads. “Do what we’re asking you to do!” a deputy shouts.

“I can’t,” Ambler says. Those were his last words.

Ambler had been driving home after playing poker with friends when Williamson County Deputy J.J. Johnson spotted him with his headlights on high. Johnson flipped on his flashing lights and gave chase.

Ambler crashed near downtown Austin.