Two ex-MPs face manslaughter charges in black man’s death in Texas

Two former Texas Sheriff’s Assistants have been charged with second degree manslaughter in the death of a black driver they repeatedly shot with a Taser during a traffic stop in 2019, despite his allegations he suffered from heart disease and couldn’t breathe, a prosecutor said. said Tuesday.

Former Williamson County MPs James Johnson and Zachary Camden had been accompanied by a television crew from the ‘Live PD’ reality show when they met 40-year-old Javier Ambler. they were suing for not dimming their lights to oncoming traffic.

The charges against Mr Johnson and Mr Camden were announced by José Garza, the district attorney for neighboring Travis County, which includes Austin, Texas, where Mr Ambler crashed his vehicle after police pursued him for traffic violation.

“With these indictments, we have taken another critical step towards justice for the Ambler family and for our community,” Garza said in a statement. “While we can never take the pain of the Ambler family away, the grand jury has sent a clear message that no one is above the law.”

Ken Ervin and Doug O’Connell, lawyers for Messrs. Johnson and Camden said in a joint statement Tuesday that Mr Ambler led the former MPs in pursuit for 22 minutes after a series of crashes and resisted arrest. .

“Sir. Ambler’s physical effort to resist the three officers it took to handcuff him undoubtedly contributed to his medical emergency, but Mr. Johnson and Mr. Camden are neither morally nor legally responsible. of his death, ”the statement read.

Lawyers for the former MPs accused Mr Garza of trying to score political points with the indictments, which came weeks after Mr Garza announced that a grand jury handed down an indictment against an Austin police officer for the shooting death of a man. last year, which sparked protests against police violence in the state capital. The lawyers also represent the officer in this case.

The bond was set at $ 150,000 for Mr. Johnson and Mr. Camden; both were released. Their lawyers said the former MPs intended to plead not guilty and surrendered on Tuesday after their indictments were signed on Monday.

Mr Ambler’s father, Javier Ambler Sr., thanked Mr Garza in a statement for filing a complaint against the former MPs.

“Our goal has always been to empower these agents so that there are no more families who have to suffer like ours,” the statement said.

On March 28, 2019, Williamson County MPs attempted to arrest Javier Ambler because the vehicle he was driving was not reducing his traffic lights, officials said. After deputies attempted to arrest Mr. Ambler, authorities said, he continued to drive for more than 20 minutes and crashed his vehicle in downtown Austin.

There, MPs tasered Mr. Ambler on several occasions.

“I have congestive heart failure,” Mr. Ambler could be heard on the body camera video. “I can not breathe.” As he and the MPs struggled, Mr. Ambler said, “Save me. One MP shouted, “Do what we ask you to do.”

Mr. Ambler was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin and pronounced dead just after 2:30 a.m.

The indictments of former MPs brought the number of people indicted in connection with Mr. Ambler’s death to four. Last year, the county sheriff at the time of Mr Ambler’s death, Robert Chody, was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence relating to the destruction of tapes of the encounter. He pleaded not guilty, along with Jason Nassour, a Williamson County deputy attorney, who was also charged with tampering with evidence.

“Live PD,” which premiered on A&E in 2016, previously broadcast police officers across the country as they conducted traffic stops, answered calls and pursued high-speed chases. The show was almost live; a delay made it possible to avoid broadcasting particularly disturbing images.

A warning at the start of each show told viewers that “all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” The show did not cover what happened to those who had been arrested. Sometimes the people filmed protected their faces or opposed the presence of cameras.

Police TV shows came under scrutiny last summer amid nationwide protests over George Floyd’s death in May, and in June A&E announced it had ceased the production of “Live PD”.

A&E representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Today Paybarah contribution to reports.