Video shows death of black man pulled over near Austin last year

AUSTIN — 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 attempted to pull 40-year-old Javier Ambler over 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 KVUETV. The deputies were being filmed for A&E Network’s realtime 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. Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis has sparked weeks of protests worldwide against police brutality and the treatment of African Americans. He was buried in Pearland on Tuesday.

Police body camera video of Ambler’s death, released to the American-Statesman under the Texas Public Information Act, shows the gasping 400-pound man telling the deputies that 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 tell 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.

Johnson drew his gun and demanded that Ambler exit his car. Ambler complied and showed his hands. Johnson, who is black, holstered his gun, pulled out his Taser and told Ambler to get down several times.

According to an internal investigative report, Ambler turned toward his vehicle and Johnson deployed the

Taser causing Ambler to drop to one knee, roll onto his back and stomach. It appeared that he was trying to stand.

A white Williamson County sheriff’s deputy arrived with a “Live PD” crew and shoved his Taser into Ambler’s back. A struggle ensued, and one of the deputies — it is unclear which — used a Taser on Ambler a third time, the report says.

An Austin police officer arrived on the scene as the deputies struggled to handcuff Ambler, and it was his

camera that recorded Ambler’s final pleas for help.

One of the deputies fired his Taser for a fourth time. The video shows Amblers hands were limp by the time deputies placed them in cuffs.

Officers realized Ambler was unconscious and performed CPR until medics arrived.

He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Investigators with the Williamson County sheriff ’s department of internal affairs determined that the deputies

didn’t violate pursuit or use-of-force policies. Their report doesn’t indicate whether the deputies were disciplined or forced to take leave.

Ambler’s death was ruled a homicide, according to the report made to the state attorney general’s office, which noted it could have been “justifiable.” An autopsy revealed he died of congestive heart failure and hypertensive cardiovascular disease associated with morbid obesity “in combination with forcible restraint.“