'Telling them he had a heart condition': LivePD crew member testifies at in-custody death trial

Editor’s Note: The above video is KXAN’s day coverage of the trial.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The third day of trial for two former Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies charged in connection with the in-custody death of Javier Ambler started with testimony from a LivePD crew member who was at the scene the night Ambler died.

The television show, which aired on A&E network then, filmed Ambler and the deputies’ interaction. The video didn’t air.

Former deputies James Johnson and Zach Camden are accused of acting recklessly while arresting Ambler on March 28, 2019. The state argued the pair used excessive force while trying to apprehend Ambler by restricting his airway and exposing him to unsafe levels of electricity with a taser.

KXAN’s Mercedez Hernandez is following day three of the trial on Wednesday. Follow her updates below:

On day two, the defense moved for a mistrial after a digital evidence coordinator with the Williamson County DA’s office offered to give the court enhanced videos from Johnson’s dashcam and bodycam footage from another officer.

Judge Karen Sage denied that motion but held off on ruling on sanctions that would bar the state from showing the videos in their original or enhanced forms.

Before the jury was brought in on day three, both sides agreed to show the videos in their original forms.

LivePD producer recalls night of Ambler’s death

The state called Ruby Garson as its first witness, an associate producer and coordinator with LivePD at the time of the incident.

She said she was in the back seat of Camden’s patrol unit with a LivePD cameraman in the front seat when the pursuit for Ambler began.

After the crash which stopped Ambler’s vehicle, she said she stayed in the car watching the events unfold from the open window and listening in through a microphone placed on Camden’s body.

She said she remembered Johnson and Camden both pulling out their tasers before Ambler fell to the ground outside the vehicle. Garson said his arms were tucked into his chest and he was lying face down on the street.

She said Ambler told officers several times he had a heart condition during the struggle.

Video from Johnson’s dashcam was presented during Garson’s testimony. The state asked her to identify two men dressed in black holding cameras with large lights filming the incident, she identified them as LivePD cameramen.

Read more