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Javier Ambler died in the custody of Williamson County sheriff's deputies.
Footage of the death of Javier Ambler, a black man who died in custody of Williamson County sheriff's deputies in March 2019, has been deleted by Live PD, the reality TV show that filmed the encounter.
According to a report by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE, Live PD producers were doing a ride-along with some officers involved in the arrest, which was initiated after Ambler allegedly failed to dim his headlights for oncoming traffic. Filming continued as Ambler was held down by officers and tased four times, even as he cried out that he had congestive heart failure and couldn't breathe.
Live PD advertises that it gives its viewers "unfettered and unfiltered live access inside a variety of the country's busiest police forces," according to A&E's website. Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody has faced criticism and a lawsuit from Williamson County commissioners for contracting with the show.
In a statement, A&E Networks said the Live PD's footage of Ambler's death was not aired live or broadcasted later. The network "no longer retained the unaired footage after learning that the investigation had concluded," according to a statement made to the Statesman.
Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore, who is investigating Ambler's death, said Monday that Chody impeded the investigation by refusing to turn over evidence. However, both the Williamson County Sheriff's Department and A&E Networks claim they were not contacted regarding the investigation. The Travis County DA's office told Austonia that a statement in response is forthcoming.
I look forward to continuing to serve as the Sheriff of Williamson County. https://t.co/a9IUvrZroT— Williamson County Sheriff Chody (@Williamson County Sheriff Chody) 1591722137.0
Williamson County commissioners have condemned Chody's department for not cooperating with investigations and have called for his resignation. In a statement, Chody said he will continue to serve as the sheriff.
Dan Abrams, the host of Live PD, tweeted that the show was never asked for the footage.
I appreciate all the questions about the horrible death of Javier Ambler. Unfortunately the @statesman story was fi… https://t.co/DXcaKjOMRf— Dan Abrams (@Dan Abrams) 1591749471.0
This story is developing and will be updated.
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(Shutterstick)
Samsung might soon be making more moves in the Austin metro.
The tech giant, which made waves as it announced plans to build a $17 billion chip plant in Taylor in late 2021, might be looking to expand in the Northeast Austin area, according to an Austin Business Journal report.
ABJ said the South Korean company is seeking more tax breaks from nearby Taylor and Manor school districts. The company filed documents requesting Chapter 313 incentives related to the breaks Saturday, and ABJ said each district will review the requests separately on Tuesday.
"While we do not have specific plans to build at this time, the Chapter 313 application process is part of our long-term planning to evaluate the viability of potentially building additional fabrication plants in the U.S.," Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC.'s director of communications, Michele Glaze, told the ABJ.
But Samsung has made headlines for more than just the $17 billion plant: In early 2022, the company caught heat for two separate spills of millions of gallons of wastewater into tributaries near its semiconductor plant.
While no expansion is promised, ABJ speculates that expansions could occur at the 1,200 acre planned Taylor factory or near the chipmaking factory on Austin's East Parmer Lane. Both expansions could bring even more revenue and job opportunities to Samsung's Texas home.
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Austin FC earned a last-minute 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC at Q2 Stadium Sunday night. (Austin FC/Twitter)
A first minute error gave Austin FC an early setback, but with the help of two red cards and two second-half goals, the Verde and Black still forced a last-minute tie in a messy home battle against Orlando City SC Sunday night.
With the 2-2 draw, Austin dropped from No. 1 in the MLS West conference but still earned a point in the standings thanks to a penalty kick goal from Sebastian Driussi and a breakthrough shot from striker Moussa Djitte, who scored his first goal with the club in the final minute of play.
Here are the top three takeaways from the match:
A fateful mistake
Pouncing on the early chances 🔥 #DaleMiAmor | #VamosOrlandopic.twitter.com/RDn1w7NCHM
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 23, 2022
Just days after his highlight reel-worthy LAFC performance, Austin keeper Brad Stuver scratched heads as he gave away a goal seconds into the game. Stuver's fateful pass went straight to Orlando's Junior Urco, who was already in the box and tapped a quick pass to Ercan Kara to score the first goal of the match.
The mistake forced Austin to chase a tie for the rest of the match, especially as center back Ruben Gabrielsen benched himself in the 20th minute. The team later said Gabrielsen has come down with something similar to a stomach bug.
Orlando would score two minutes later, and Austin FC left the first half looking like the opposite of its "Best in the MLS" self from just days prior.
The two red cards
Sebastián Driussi right down the middle.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 23, 2022
His 8th goal of the season cuts the lead in half for @AustinFC. pic.twitter.com/4sGccamVg3
By the 60th minute of the match, however, the tides had turned. Orlando's Rodrigo Schlegel, who had already racked up a yellow card on a handball, was ousted from the game two minutes later for yet another handball, this time in the penalty box.
Austin's main man Sebastian Driussi took the kick and sent it in for his eighth goal of the season to make it 2-1.
And just over five minutes later, Orlando's Cesar Araujo was the second man in purple kicked out of the match after he kicked Alex Ring on a slide tackle near the box. Austin was left with just over 20 minutes, and just nine opponents left, to try and tie it up.
The 'Mouss' is loose!
Moussa Djitté STOPPAGE TIME EQUALIZER for @AustinFC! 😱 pic.twitter.com/db7iQwff6Q
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 23, 2022
As the whistle blew and regulation time ran out, Orlando seemed to have won the match. The team had withstood many, many close calls—including two shots off the post from Austin FC's Diego Fagundez and Maxi Urruti—as Austin FC flooded the box with 22 cracks at a goal.
But thanks to the chaotic nature of the game, Austin FC was given nine extra minutes to tie it up. Moussa Djitte was the one who finally broke through five minutes into stoppage time, earning his first goal in Verde to put a 2-2 cap on the wild home match.
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