Audio By Carbonatix
Body camera footage of a black man's arrest in Austin, Texas, where he says "I can't breathe" multiple times is under investigation.
In body camera video released Monday by the Austin Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff's Office deputies were shown pursuing Javier Ambler, 40, just after 1 a.m. on March 28, 2019.
Ambler failed to dim his car's headlights as he drove past a deputy, according to a sheriff's department incident report. Ambler then tried to flee, leading officers on a 22-minute pursuit that ended up in the city of Austin, the report says.
Ambler collided with three fixed objects on and off the roadway, according to the office of the Texas Attorney General custodial death report.
The 14-minute body camera footage captured the moment the deputies stopped their vehicles, and when they started walking toward Ambler.
Ambler exited his car with his hands up, according to the documents obtained by CNN. He was unarmed and not intoxicated. Officers tried to handcuff Ambler, but said he resisted and pushed back on the officers as he refused to follow the verbal commands, according to Williamson County Sheriff's Office case report.
Ambler is seen in distress. As they handcuff him, he is heard saying "I have congestive heart failure."Multiple times on the video, Ambler is also heard saying he can't breathe and that he's not resisting. Several minutes into the arrest, officers realize Ambler is unresponsive. Ambler is no longer heard on-camera.
Shortly after, officers took off Ambler's handcuffs and can be heard administering CPR compressions until medical units arrived on the scene.

'This case has been so unusual'
Ambler's manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the death report from the Texas Attorney General. Congestive heart failure, hypertensive cardiovascular disease associated with morbid obesity "in combination with forcible restraint" were listed as Ambler's cause of death.
The Office of Professional Standards in the Williamson County Sheriff's Department said, "After reviewing the video evidence, OPS concludes the primary deputy 'JJ' Johnson and assisting deputies acted in accordance with the guidelines set in the WCSO policy and used objective reasonableness in the level of force used. OPS also recommends the chain of command review the use of force and complete RMS Response to Resistance module, in accordance to WSCO policy."
The Travis County District Attorney is leading an investigation into the deadly arrest. District Attorney Margaret Moore told CNN Monday the body camera footage was coming from an Austin police officer who responded to the scene when the chase entered the city. No Austin officers are under investigation.
"We have determined that we need to take it to a grand jury," Moore said, adding that officials with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office have not been cooperative. "This case has been so unusual. It is not typical for us to encounter obstacles to getting evidence especially from another law enforcement agency."
The Covid-19 pandemic prohibited setting a grand jury to hear the case in March, Moore said. Her office is trying to get the case heard in July, but it could possibly be delayed until August.
"It's important, in today's climate with the heightened response to officer-involved incidents, that the public know we are prosecuting this case, are taking it to the grand jury and we will do everything within our power to see that justice is done here," she said.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana calls for greater inclusion of women, youth in West African leadership
7 minutes -
Ghana, Burkina Faso sign seven agreements to deepen security, economic cooperation
12 minutes -
Seized trucks: Government bans land transit of cooking oil
17 minutes -
U.S. Embassy warns Ghanaian travellers against visa overstays during 2026 World Cup
24 minutes -
Deportation of Chagos Islanders blocked by judge
27 minutes -
We’re in talks with Adeleke’s family to resolve Sophia, Davido custody dispute – Dele Momodu
36 minutes -
Rare prison sentences handed to Cameroon soldiers after killing of 21 civilians
46 minutes -
5 bodies of migrants washed ashore in east of Libya’s capital Tripoli, police officer says
57 minutes -
Greenland says ‘no thanks’ to Trump US hospital boat
1 hour -
Powerful winter storm slams US northeast as NYC issues travel ban
1 hour -
Kim Jong Un re-appointed leader of North Korea’s ruling party
1 hour -
Mexico’s most wanted drug lord ‘El Mencho’ killed in military operation
2 hours -
Attackers kill at least 50, abduct women and children in Nigeria’s Zamfara state
2 hours -
Stakeholders advocate national terminology programme for Ghanaian languages
2 hours -
Simi dragged online after TikToker Mirabel admits faking rape claim
5 hours
