Week one of the manslaughter trial for two former Williamson County deputies is in the books.Zachary Camden and James Johnson are charged for the 2019 death of
Jurors hear testimony about use of force in former WilCo deputies' manslaughter trial, March 1, 2024 Week one of the manslaughter trial for two former Williamson County deputies is in the books. Zachary Camden and James Johnson are charged for the 2019 death of Javier Ambler, who died in police custody while his arrest was being filmed for the now-canceled reality show “Live PD.
” Friday got off to a dramatic start, with the defense accusing the prosecution of a Brady violation and calling for the case to be dismissed. Just minutes after the trial started Friday, the court was in recess. The defense told Judge Karen Sage they had just received a use of force report by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office from prosecutors only an hour and a half before the day started, raising a Brady violation, which is when prosecutors purposely withhold crucial evidence that’s favorable to the defense.“I don’t know what I’m gonna rule yet, but we’ll take a recess and come back,” Sage said. Sage returned to the courtroom a few minutes later, agreeing that there had in fact been a Brady violation but ruled she wouldn't be granting a mistrial or dismissal. “On Monday morning, we can discuss further what the consequences on the violation will be,” said Sage. Jurors filled the courtroom soon shortly after, and for the majority of the day, they heard from the state’s use of force expert witness Roger Clark. His expertise is in high-risk stops, like the one involving Ambler, and the standard practices or tactics used by law enforcement.Jurors were shown dash cam video of the incident and given a play-by-play of what Clark says deputies Johnson and Camden did wrong.Clark was also asked to draw for the jurors what a proper high-risk stop looks like. His drawing showed where Ambler’s car was stopped and where the deputy’s car should have been positioned behind him, as law enforcement is trained. It also showed the area, or “kill zone,” officers should avoid when pulling a car over, and Clark says officers should never approach the person in a high-risk stop, because the person will be less likely to cooperate. Dash cam video shown to jurors immediately after that statement contradicts what Clark says should be done. “Johnson has exited, starts screaming, ‘Get out of the van! Get out of the van now!’ and has put himself directly in front of the driver’s door, as the driver’s door is opening, so this now presents no cover whatsoever.”Clark says Ambler was tased two times by each officer. Seconds after Ambler was approached, he was tased by Johnson first, immediately drops to the ground and appears to not be resisting officers, which is why Clark says the tasing that continued afterward was unnecessary. “When you hear a ‘Get on your back!’ or ‘Put your hands behind your back!’ and we see that. Very early on in this, he makes statements, one of them was, ‘I have congestive heart failure,’ when he’s able to talk,” Clark said. “That’s very significant in my evaluation of the sequence. His last words were, please, I can’t breathe.” The last witness of the day was Dr. Michael Freeman, a consultant in forensic medicine and epidemiology, who has studied death in custody cases. He said in about 60% of those cases, tasing is involved.Stay Connected
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