Bodycam Footage of Black Man's Arrest in Austin Shows Him Saying, ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Several Times
The Austin Police Department on Monday released a body camera video that showed William County Sheriff's Office deputies pursuing 40-year-old Javier Ambler on March 28, 2019, a little after 1 a.m. Ambler was heard saying "I can't breathe," several times in the video, which is now under investigation.
Based on an incident report of the sheriff's department, Ambler was unable to dim the headlights of his car while driving past a deputy. He allegedly attempted to flee, leading officers on a pursuit of more than 20 minutes that ended up in Austin.
Ambler, as indicated in the custodial death report of the office of the Texas Attorney General, "Bump into with three fixed objects on and off the roadway."
The 14-Minute Video Footage
The body camera video footage, which lasted for 14 minutes was able to capture the instants the deputies stopped their vehicles. The moments when they started to walk toward Ambler were capture, as well.
Based on the documents CNN was able to obtain, the video also showed Ambler exiting his car with both hands up. He was unarmed. Neither he was intoxicated, according to the document.
According to the case report of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, officers attempted to handcuff the black man. However, they said, the black man "resisted and pushed back on the officers" while refusing to follow orders made verbally.
The video showed a seemingly distressed Ambler. As he was handcuffed by officials, he is heard in the video saying, and he had "congestive heart failures." Many times in the footage too, Ambler's voice is heard as he said he could not breathe and that he was not resisting.
A few minutes into his apprehension, reports indicated, officers realized that Ambler was unresponsive-his voice could no longer be heard on camera.
Not long after, police reportedly took handcuffs off Ambler. More so, CNN reported, officers are heard in the video as they administered "CPR compressions" until the arrival of medical units on the scene.
Ongoing Investigation
According to the Texas Attorney General's death report, the manner of death of Ambler was considered a homicide. One of the conditions that caused his death, as listed on the report included "hypertensive cardiovascular disease linked with morbid obesity and congestive heart failure."
According to the Office of Professional Standards in the Williamson County Sheriff's Department, WBAL TV-11 also reported, following review of the video proof, OPS has come up with a conclusion.
Specifically, the department concluded that "primary deputy 'JJ' Johnson," along with the assisting officers, acted accordingly in line with the guidelines included in the WCSO rule. The conclusion also indicated that they used "objective reasonableness" in terms of the level of force used.
The Travis County District Attorney is tasked to heading the investigation of Ambler's fatal arrest. Margaret Moore, the District Attorney, on Monday, said, the footage from the body camera came from a police officer in Austin who responded to the scene. She also said, no officers in Austin are being investigated.
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