Man begged for his life while Williamson County deputy repeatedly tazed him, then he died

At the Austin Statesman, Tony Plohetski has the story of a man killed by Williamson County Sheriff's deputies last year while reality-TV cameras looked on as he begged for his life. His story opens:

Javier Ambler was driving home from a friendly poker game in the early hours of March 28, 2019, when a Williamson County sheriff’s deputy noticed that he failed to dim the headlights of his SUV to oncoming traffic.

Twenty-eight minutes later, the black father of two sons lay dying on a North Austin street after deputies held him down and used Tasers on him four times while a crew from A&E’s reality show “Live PD” filmed.

Ambler, a 40-year-old former postal worker, repeatedly pleaded for mercy, telling deputies he had congestive heart failure and couldn’t breathe. He cried, “Save me,” before deputies deployed a final shock.

His death never made headlines.

While Ambler was chased, stopped, and assaulted by a Williamson County Sheriff's deputy, the death-in-custody report was filed by the Austin PD, since the death occurred in their jurisdiction. Notably, "As they crossed into Travis County, Austin officers were instructed not to get involved in the pursuit because they are allowed only to chase dangerous criminals."

Plohetski reviewed video and captured this final exchange between Ambler and Deputy Zachary Camden. Amber begged for his life while Camden repeatedly tazed him:

“I have congestive heart failure,” Ambler says. “I have congestive heart failure. I can’t breathe.”

As the deputies scream orders, Ambler, between gasps, tells them he’s trying to follow their commands. Another four times he tells the deputies he can’t breathe.

“I am not resisting,” Ambler cries. “Sir, I can’t breathe. ... Please. ... Please.”

The deputies, who are on top of Ambler, continue yelling at him to put his arms behind his back.

“Save me,” Ambler cries.

“Do what we’re asking you to do!” a deputy yells.

“I can’t,” Ambler says, the last words the video captures from him just before one of the deputies deploys his Taser a fourth and final time at 1:47 a.m.

Ambler’s hands go limp, and the deputies place handcuffs around his wrists.

Moments later, they realized he was unconscious and his pulse had stopped.

Javier Ambler: Say his name.