WilCo Sheriff, 'Live PD' Crew Reportedly Under Grand Jury Probe

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — A Williamson County grand jury is considering evidence-tampering charges against Sheriff Robert Chody among others, according to a published report on Friday.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Chody and the crew of the "Live PD" reality show in which his deputies appeared along with others are subjects of the grand jury probe. The destroyed evidence probe centers on video footage of the arrest of Javier Ambler, 40, who later died while in custody, according to the report.

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The Williamson County Sheriff's Office came under fire for the death of Ambler, a Black man who lived in Pflugerville, who died in custody in 2019 while pleading with deputies he was unable to breathe — a full year before the Minneapolis death of George Floyd who made similar pleas while in custody and whose death reignited a movement against police abuse.

Details of the March 2019 death only came to light in June after the Austin American-Statesman and its news partner KVUE obtained footage of the arrest after months of formal requests. Graphic police bodycam video ultimately released showed the last moments of Ambler, a father of two, as he pleaded with deputies. Deputies pursued chase after Ambler failed to dim his headlights as he drove past them.

The death realized the worst nightmare scenario of those decrying the sheriff's participation in the since-canceled reality show "Live PD" — one that posited an overplayed aggression for the benefit of cameras that would ultimately lead to someone's death. Critics of the show — including county commissioners who once ordered an end to local participation before Chody surreptiously renewed the filming agreement — worried also about not being able to retain show footage owned by "Live PD" producers that could be needed as potential evidence in cases.