Williamson County Settles For $5M In Javier Ambler Case

Round Rock TX

14 December, 2021

2:07 PM

Description

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Williamson County officials have settled the wrongful death lawsuit of Javier Ambler II on Tuesday for $5 million. Ambler died in police custody in 2019 while the TV show "Live PD" was recording the arrest. The settlement was announced at a county commissioners meeting Tuesday morning. The county said it will pay approximately $1.6 million with the remainder paid by the County's insurance. Officials said the settlement was on behalf of Ambler's family and estate, and is considered to be the "largest settlement in county history." Javier Ambler died in March 2019 after Williamson County deputies chased him into Travis County while attempting to pull him over for a traffic violation. During his arrest, Ambler could be heard on a bodycam video telling deputies and officers he had congestive heart failure and could not breathe. He was restrained and shocked with a taser as A&E's "Live PD" cameras rolled. Ambler later became unresponsive and was taken to a local hospital where he died. Ambler's arrest was captured by film crews for the now-canceled TV show. Those video files were later destroyed. Former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and former Williamson County General Counsel Jason Nassour are charged with evidence tampering and conspiracy in relation to that missing footage. RELATED: Former WilCo Sheriff Arrested In Connection To Javier Ambler Case Deputies Zach Camden and J.J. Johnson, who detained and raised Ambler that night, were indicted on manslaughter charges in late March. Tuesday's announcement comes after the two former Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputies appeared in court Tuesday afternoon for a hearing on their charges of manslaughter in connection with Ambler's death. Tuesday's hearing will address what the destruction of the "Live PD" video capturing Ambler's death means for Camden and Johnson's case. In reaction to Ambler's death, "The Javier Ambler Law" was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in May. The law prevents law enforcement agencies from contracting with reality TV shows.