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2 ex-Texas sheriff deputies indicted in Black man’s death
Read full article: 2 ex-Texas sheriff deputies indicted in Black man’s deathCamden, a former Williamson County Sheriff's Deputy, has been indicted on manslaughter charges in the March 2019 death of a 40-year-old Black man named Javier Ambler. The announcement Tuesday, March 30, 2021, comes two years after Ambler's death was filmed by the police reality TV series "Live PD." They were booked into a Travis County jail on Tuesday and released on $150,000 bond each within an hour, according to a spokeswoman for the Travis County Sheriff's Office. “We are very pleased to see that the Travis County District Attorney is serious about seeking justice for our family. Former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was also indicted last year on charges of destroying or concealing video in an investigation into Ambler's death.
Williamson County sheriff charged with felony evidence tampering in Javier Ambler case
Read full article: Williamson County sheriff charged with felony evidence tampering in Javier Ambler caseWilliamson County Sheriff Robert Chody Credit: via TwitterA grand jury has indicted Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody on a felony evidence tampering charge in the case of Javier Ambler, a Black man who died in 2019 after being Tased multiple times by deputies. Jason Nassour, a county attorney was also indicted on the same charge. Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick and Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said in June they’d open a joint investigation into the circumstances leading up to Ambler’s death. Ambler died after a 22-minute police chase that started after he failed to dim his headlights. Michael Ramos, a Black and Latino man, died in April after being shot by an Austin police officer.
Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's death
Read full article: Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's deathAUSTIN, Texas – A Texas sheriff has been indicted on charges of destroying or concealing video in an investigation into the death in custody of a Black man, Javier Ambler, that was filmed by the police reality TV series “Live PD," prosecutors said Monday. Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody was booked Monday into his jail on a $10,000 bond and released a short time later. The traffic stop was filmed for the real-time police show “Live PD," which was canceled by the A&E Network in June. “The Live PD video would be wholly material to the investigation into use of force,” Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said at a news conference. Chody, who said he would not step down while under indictment, said Live PD was never contacted by prosecutors for footage during the initial investigation.
Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's death
Read full article: Texas sheriff indicted after probe into Black man's deathWilliamson County records show Sheriff Robert Chody is facing the third-degree felony charge that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. In June, Williamson County prosecutors announced an investigation “involving possible tampering with evidence" following the 40-year-old Ambler's death in March 2019. Ambler died after Williamson County sheriff’s deputies repeatedly used stun guns on him, despite his pleas that he was sick and couldn’t breathe. Travis County prosecutors are separately investigating the use of force in Ambler's death. His booking photo posted by the jail showed Chody smiling in a suit, standing in front of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office logo.
Travis County DA will not take Javier Ambler, Michael Ramos cases to grand jury before leaving office this year
Read full article: Travis County DA will not take Javier Ambler, Michael Ramos cases to grand jury before leaving office this yearSocial mediaTravis County District Attorney Margaret Moore will not bring two significant officer use-of-force cases to a grand jury before she leaves office this year, her office said Wednesday. The move delays the prosecution of the cases related to the deaths of Javier Ambler and Michael Ramos, both of whom died at the hands of law enforcement officers. Moore previously planned to present both cases to a special grand jury in August. Before he died, Ambler told the officers he had congestive heart failure and couldnt breathe. Moore said she directed her offices civil rights unit to continue preparing both cases for the grand jury so they will be ready to present to the grand jury as soon as the newly elected District Attorney takes office.
Texas Democrats urge Abbott to call special session as details emerge showing Javier Ambler’s death at the hands of sheriff’s deputies
Read full article: Texas Democrats urge Abbott to call special session as details emerge showing Javier Ambler’s death at the hands of sheriff’s deputiesLocal and state leaders are calling for the resignation of Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and for the deputies involved in Javier Ambler’s death to be fired. Last year, Williamson County deputies pursued Ambler in a car chase for 22 minutes, after trying to pull him over for not dimming his headlights. Williamson County sheriff’s department maintains that its deputies did nothing wrong, according to an internal affairs investigation obtained by the Statesman. Moore needs to focus on completing her 16-month-old Ambler investigation. Instead, she is trying to blame her own failures on the Williamson County Sheriff's Department,” Chody tweeted.
'Live P.D.' Host Dan Abrams on Show's Decision to Destroy Footage of Javier Ambler's Death (Exclusive)
Read full article: 'Live P.D.' Host Dan Abrams on Show's Decision to Destroy Footage of Javier Ambler's Death (Exclusive)Dan Abrams is opening up about Live P.D. The show's host and co-executive producer is also "very disappointed and frustrated" by A&E's decision to pull Live P.D. "This is a critical time in our nations history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live P.D. The show retained the footage for 30 days while police carried out their investigation, and Abrams says law enforcement never requested Live P.D. Our goal was to chronicle what law enforcement did, was to document what law enforcement did."
'Live PD' dropped by A&E on heels of 'Cops' cancellation
Read full article: 'Live PD' dropped by A&E on heels of 'Cops' cancellationA&E Network has canceled the police reality series Live PD after weeks of protests inspired by the death of George Floyd and a report that a crew from the show filmed the death of another black man in police custody. The cable network announced the move Wednesday, a day after the similar show Cops," on the air for 33 seasons, was dropped by the Paramount Network. This is a critical time in our nations history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD," A&E said in a statement. Prosecutors who are investigating Ambler's death said the presence of the Live PD crew made the arrest, which was captured on police body-camera video obtained by the news outlets, particularly troubling. Live PD, which had been on the air since 2016, had a more news documentary approach than Cops, which let police speak almost entirely for themselves.
Mother of Javier Amblers sons: Your children do not mean more than my children
Read full article: Mother of Javier Amblers sons: Your children do not mean more than my children"I can't breathe," Ambler can be heard saying repeatedly on body camera footage of the March 2019 incident, released this week. He tells the Williamson County, Texas, sheriff's deputies: "I am not resisting," and "I have congestive heart failure." The chase ended when his Honda Pilot crashed with a grove of trees, according to the death report. An officer is heard saying so in a radio request for emergency medical services. The manner of death was homicide, the custodial death report stated.
Javier Ambler, Who Died After Being Tasered by Texas Cops, Pleaded He Couldn't Breathe
Read full article: Javier Ambler, Who Died After Being Tasered by Texas Cops, Pleaded He Couldn't BreatheThe revelations about Ambler's 2019 death raise questions about Williamson County deputies' practice of pursuing drivers for minor crimes. Ambler died March 28, 2019, after he was driving home following a poker game with friends, according to the report. Another Williamson County sheriff's deputy, who is white, arrived with a Live PD crew and shoved his Taser into Ambler's back. Live PD didn't respond to requests for comment. "In terms of any Live PD footage, as a department, we do not control that footage," the statement said.
Greg Abbott has condemned the death of George Floyd, but hes been silent on Texas recent history of police killings
Read full article: Greg Abbott has condemned the death of George Floyd, but hes been silent on Texas recent history of police killingsMiguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneWhen George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis police last month, Texas Gov. Where is the outrage from officials about these tragedies?Failed police reformsSince Floyds death, Abbott has instead focused his Texas comments on celebrating the states criminal justice reforms. But more recently, criminal justice reform advocates at the state Capitol have bemoaned failed attempts at change. That measure again failed quite spectacularly, said Chris Harris, director of the criminal justice project for the advocacy group Texas Appleseed. Harris hopes the current political climate will lead to a more successful criminal justice session in 2021.
In George Floyd-inspired protests, Texas organizers find new allies in quest for police reforms
Read full article: In George Floyd-inspired protests, Texas organizers find new allies in quest for police reformsAs the mourning of George Floyds death spilled over from the first weekend of protests and passed the seven-day mark, Durrel Douglas opted to stay off the streets. It shouldnt have been anybody dying for this to happen.In Texas, protests are reviving attention to the state's own history of killings by police. Last year, Atatiana Jefferson was shot by a white police officer through a bedroom window in her Fort Worth home. In the last two weeks, protests have spread from the states largest cities into suburban cities, rural Texas communities and even to Texas most notorious sundown town. It feels like a shift, local organizer Tina Butler said of the recent energy in the mostly Latino and white city of Corpus Christi.
Black man heard saying I cant breathe multiple times during fatal arrest in Texas, body camera video shows
Read full article: Black man heard saying I cant breathe multiple times during fatal arrest in Texas, body camera video shows(CNN) Body camera footage of a black man's arrest in Austin, Texas, where he says "I can't breathe" multiple times is under investigation. Multiple times on the video, Ambler is also heard saying he can't breathe and that he's not resisting. "We have determined that we need to take it to a grand jury," Moore said, adding that officials with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office have not been cooperative. Her office is trying to get the case heard in July, but it could possibly be delayed until August. CNN has reached out to the Williamson County Sheriff Office and Texas Attorney Generals Office.