Texas sheriff indicted on tampering with evidence relating to 'Live PD' show
Sheriff Robert Chody is facing the third-degree felony charge
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Texas sheriff has been indicted on an evidence-tampering charge in the destruction of reality TV show footage amid investigations into the death of a Black man in police custody that occurred during filming for A&E Network’s real-time police show “Live PD.”
Sheriff Robert Chody is facing the third-degree felony charge that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He was booked into jail Monday on a $10,000 bond.
In June, Williamson County prosecutors announced an investigation “involving possible tampering with evidence" following the death last year of Javier Ambler. The 40-year-old Black man died after Williamson County sheriff’s deputies repeatedly used stun guns on him, despite his pleas that he was sick and couldn’t breathe.
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Williamson County deputies attempted to pull Ambler over on March 28, 2019, near downtown Austin because he failed to dim his headlights to oncoming traffic, according to a report first published by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV. The deputies were being filmed for A&E Network’s real-time police show “Live PD,” a feature of the arrest that prosecutors said was particularly troubling.
Police body camera video of Ambler’s death shows the gasping 400-pound man telling the deputies that he wants to comply with their demands but that he can’t because he has congestive heart failure.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I am not resisting,” Ambler cries. “Sir, I can’t breathe. ... Please. ... Please.”
The family attorney of Ambler said Chody "was more interested in being part of a reality television program and providing entertaining video content than protecting" Black lives in Austin.
The sheriff nor his attorney responded to Fox News’ requests for comment.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}His attorneys told KVUE-TV video shows his deputies “did nothing wrong” after he was indicted for evidence tampering in the death of Ambler.