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WILLIAMSON COUNTY (Talk1370.com) -- The family of Javier Ambler II, the man who died while in custody of Williamson County deputies in March 2019 as "Live PD" cameras filmed, has filed a civil lawsuit against the county.
Nationally-known attorney Ben Crump has joined the case, according to a media release Sunday. Crump has also worked with the families of George Floyd, Botham Jean, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Michael Brown.
The suit alleges the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Robert Chody promoted a culture of violence often for the sake of television. "Sheriff Chody and his deputies made it a greater priority to create reality television than to defend and protect the citizens of Williamson County," Crump said in a statement.
Ambler's death followed a pursuit by Williamson County Sheriff's deputies, after allegedly failing to dim his headlights. Following the stop, Ambler was tased multiple times, becoming unresponsive before later dying. Medical reports identify Ambler's cause of death as "congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease 'in combination with forcible restraint.'"
Body camera footage from an Austin Police officer at the scene shows Ambler telling deputies multiple times "I have congestive heart failure" and "I can't breathe."
Chody and assistant county attorney Jason Nassour were indicted last month on charges of evidence tampering related to the case. Chody denies the allegations, calling it a political attack. Chody is currently running for re-election; his first court date has been set for November 30.