'Doesn't change because there are cameras': WCSO asst. chief testifies on Day 4 of in-custody death trial
An Assistant Chief with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office gave jurors insight into how LivePD cameras were following deputies the night Javier Ambler died.
Editor's note: The above video is KXAN's previous coverage of the trial.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — An assistant chief with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office gave jurors insight into how LivePD cameras were following deputies the night Javier Ambler died.
Former deputies James Johnson and Zach Camden have been charged with manslaughter for the Ambler's death.
On March 28, 2019, deputies attempted to pull Ambler over for failing to dim his headlights. A 20-minute chase ensued and ended with a crash near St. John's and Bethune Avenue.
KXAN Reporter Mercedez Hernandez is following day four of the trial:
The former deputies are accused of acting recklessly by using a stun gun during Ambler's arrest, despite him telling officers he had a heart condition.
The state called WCSO Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement James David as its first witness on day four.
On the witness stand, David said, over time, around 10 WCSO deputies were followed by crews from LivePD.
He said some volunteered to appear in the program, but "toward the end," some were "voluntold" to participate, David said.
When the state asked if patrols changed because of cameras, David said protocols remained the same.
"We conduct traffic stops the way we conduct traffic stops. That doesn’t change because there are cameras in the car," David said.
The state presented David with a transcript from a previous conversation they had while preparing for the trial. In those notes, David told prosecutors at the time that Johnson and Camden were enthusiastic about working with LivePD.
Bodycam video shows deputies' reactions once Ambler is unresponsive
After a short break, jurors returned, and David's bodycam from the night of the incident was presented to the court.
David, at the time, was a lieutenant with WCSO and said he was the highest-ranking WCSO officer at the scene. He could be seen walking toward where responders were trying to revive Ambler and saying this was "going to be a full-meal deal" over his police radio - implying oversight and higher-up personnel would be called to the scene.
David spoke to Johnson first. The former deputy looked stressed as he took off his cap, breathed in deeply and rubbed his eyes before speaking with David.
On the tape, Johnson could be heard telling David that Ambler failed to comply with several orders before finally falling to the ground. Johnson said he tried to pull Ambler's left arm behind his back, but Ambler was "fighting" him the whole time.
Johnson said once "support" arrived in the form of Camden and an APD officer, Ambler was handcuffed, and officers sat him up against the vehicle and realized Ambler was unresponsive.
"I wasn't trying to hurt that f—ing guy," Johnson told David.