Police Brutality and Excessive Force in Williamson County, Texas

Comprehensive Research Report (Digital Edition)
By LeRoy Nellis

I. Executive Summary

This report documents a pattern of alleged police brutality, excessive force, and custodial abuse associated with law enforcement in Williamson County, Texas, with a focus on the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the county jail.

From the 2014 SWAT takedown of 81-year-old Herman Crisp, to the 2019 in-custody death of Javier Ambler II during filming for “Live PD”, to more recent jail brutality and restraint-chair cases such as Johnny Tijerina (2023 incident, $1.15M settlement in 2025), the record shows:

• Repeated allegations of unnecessary violence, including against elderly, disabled, mentally ill, and Black residents.
• Evidence of a “performance policing” culture linked to reality TV (Live PD) and “rewards” for uses of force.
• Multiple civil-rights lawsuits and large settlements (including $2.5M, $1.15M, and several in the $250k–$500k range).
• Criminal prosecutions of some individuals (e.g., Deputy Christopher Pisa for assault; manslaughter cases for deputies in Ambler’s death), though criminal accountability remains limited.
• A response that includes state-level legal reform (notably HB 54 – “Javier Ambler’s Law”) and changes in sheriff leadership, but with ongoing litigation and unresolved harms.

The overall picture supports the conclusion that police brutality in Williamson County is not merely a set of isolated incidents, but is tied to:

• A long-standing “law-and-order” identity and punitive prosecutorial culture.
• Poor oversight, documentation, and internal accountability for use of force.
• Systemic problems in jail operations, especially related to mental health, disability, and the use of restraint chairs.

II. Methodology

This report is based on:

• News coverage from regional and national outlets (e.g., Austin American-Statesman, KVUE, KUT, Texas Tribune, local TV and radio).
• Federal and state court filings (complaints, orders, opinions) in civil-rights and excessive-force cases involving Williamson County and its officers.
• County Commissioners Court agendas and minutes documenting settlements and ongoing litigation.
• Publicly available policy documents and reform reports, including a Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) report focusing on criminal-justice and mental-health intersections.
• Secondary commentary from advocacy organizations and legal practitioners.

This is not legal advice and does not purport to be an exhaustive listing of every single complaint, but it captures all major, documented incidents and patterns that have surfaced in public records through late 2025.

III. Context: Williamson County’s Justice Culture

A. “Law-and-Order” County Identity

Williamson County has for decades promoted a “tough on crime” brand. This has manifested in:

• Historically harsh charging and sentencing practices by county prosecutors.
• A culture of minimal leniency and strong support for aggressive policing.

A key episode illustrating this culture is the Michael Morton case, where former Williamson County DA (and later judge) Ken Anderson was criminally sanctioned and briefly jailed for withholding exculpatory evidence that contributed to Morton’s wrongful conviction and decades-long imprisonment. That scandal exposed a deep tolerance for rule-bending in pursuit of convictions, and colored perceptions of the county’s justice system more broadly.

B. Law Enforcement Agencies in Scope

• Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) – primary county-wide law enforcement; operates the Williamson County Jail.
• Municipal police departments within Williamson County (e.g., Cedar Park, Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto) – involved in some SWAT and patrol incidents, often working in coordination with WCSO.

IV. Major Street-Level Excessive Force Cases

A. The Death of Javier Ambler II (2019)

Incident summary

• Date: March 28, 2019
• Trigger: Deputies attempt to stop Ambler for allegedly failing to dim his headlights.
• Pursuit: A 22-minute pursuit starts in Williamson County and ends in North Austin.
• Use of force: Deputies repeatedly tase and physically restrain Ambler.
• Statements: Ambler states “I can’t breathe,” “I am not resisting,” and warns he has congestive heart failure.
• Outcome: Ambler dies. The medical examiner rules it a homicide caused by cardiovascular disease + excessive forcible restraint.

Role of “Live PD”
Deputies were being filmed by A&E’s “Live PD.” The show later destroyed its footage under its retention policy, a focal point in evidence-tampering allegations.

Internal findings/public disclosure

• WCSO initially declared deputies did “nothing wrong.”
• Media fought for body-cam release; footage became public only in 2020.

Criminal and civil proceedings

• Deputies Johnson and Camden indicted for manslaughter; acquitted in 2024.
• Former Sheriff Chody and County Attorney Nassour indicted for evidence tampering.
• Ambler’s family files civil-rights suits seeking Monell findings.

B. Watsky “Staged Raid” / Live PD SWAT Operation (2019; $2.5M Settlement)

In 2019, WCSO planned a SWAT-style raid on the Watsky home in Cedar Park, allegedly for Live PD cameras. Tactical units breached both doors without knocking, using dramatic tactics unnecessary for the arrest.

The Watsky family sued, arguing the raid was staged for TV. In 2024, Williamson County paid approximately $2.5 million to settle the case.

C. Deputy Christopher Pisa & Imani Nembhard (2019; Criminal Conviction)

Deputy Pisa responded to a domestic-violence call. Video shows him slamming and pulling the hair of Army veteran Imani Nembhard.

Pisa was indicted and in 2024 pleaded guilty. He received a probated jail sentence, mandatory programs, and is barred from future law-enforcement work.

V. Jail Brutality, Restraint Chairs, and Medical Neglect

A. Death of Daniel McCoy (2018)

• McCoy, age 24, had serious mental-health conditions and was deemed incompetent to stand trial.
• Reports say staff ignored distress signals and denied care.
• He died in jail in 2018.
• A settlement of roughly $500,000 was reported.
• Whistleblower claims allege medics mocked his death online.

B. Johnny Tijerina – Broken Leg, Broken Hip, Restraint Chair (2023 Incident; 2025 Settlement)

• Date: October 26, 2023
• Vulnerabilities: Learning disability, anxiety, hard of hearing
• Incident: Ordered to undress while handcuffed, then taken down violently
• Leg swept, multiple officers pile on top of him
• Suffers a broken leg and fractured hip
• Strapped into restraint chair for hours without medical care
• Settlement: $1.15 million in October 2025
• At least third recent settlement involving restraint chair misuse

C. Other Restraint Chair & Jail Force Cases

• At least one $250,000 settlement
• Cases alleging nerve damage, hand injuries, long-term chronic pain
• Consistent allegations: restraint chair used punitively

D. Key Civil-Rights Jail Cases

Acosta v. Williamson County – ADA + excessive force; informs municipal-liability standards.

Lewis v. Williamson County – Excessive force after detainee reacts to Live PD broadcast.

Additional quietly settled or sealed cases allege beatings, denial of care, and punitive restraint.

VI. SWAT & Tactical Operations: The Herman Crisp Case

A. 2014 SWAT Raid on Herman Crisp

• Date: Sept 26, 2014
• Victim: Herman Crisp, 81
• SWAT detonated flash-bang device
• Forced Crisp to the ground, allegedly breaking his hip
• Crisp handcuffed while injured; delayed medical care
• Filed federal civil-rights suit (Crisp v. Dutton)

VII. Internal Culture: “Rewarding Force” & Reality-TV Policing

A. Gift Cards for “Good Uses of Force”

Texas Rangers investigations found reports that supervisors handed out steakhouse gift cards to deputies for “good” uses of force—creating a reward structure for aggression.

B. Live PD as a Force Multiplier

The WCSO–Live PD contract encouraged “good TV”: staged arrests, timed raids, and heightened dramatics—turning law enforcement into entertainment production.

VIII. Community Response and Political / Legal Reform

A. Protests & Local Organizing

After Ambler’s video release, protests demanded Chody’s resignation, removal of Confederate symbols, and structural reform.

B. HB 54 – “Javier Ambler’s Law”

• Passed in 2021
• Prohibits law enforcement from participating in reality TV ride-alongs
• Ends Live PD-style incentives statewide

C. Sheriff Leadership Changes

• Robert Chody (2017–2020) – Oversaw Live PD era; now facing legal issues
• Mike Gleason (2021–2025) – Reform-oriented; ended Live PD
• Matt Lindemann (2025– ) – Former Texas Ranger; inherits ongoing litigation

D. Structural & Policy Initiatives

• SIM planning on mental health & justice system
• Policy updates on use of force and restraint chairs

IX. Patterns and Findings

• Disproportionate Harm – Elderly, disabled, mentally ill, and Black residents repeatedly harmed.
• Performance-Based Policing – Live PD + rewards encouraged dramatic, aggressive policing.
• Weak Internal Accountability – Internal reviews routinely cleared deputies despite later evidence.
• Problematic Jail Culture – Repeated brutality and medical neglect; punitive restraint chair use.
• Reactive Reform – Changes followed scandals, not proactive oversight.

X. Recommendations

Independent Oversight & Transparency

• Civilian review board
• Annual force/incident reports

Restraint Chair Reform

• Moratorium or strict limits
• Mandatory medical oversight

Mental Health & Disability Protections

• Training and co-responder models
• ADA-compliant booking procedures

Use-of-Force Reforms

• Mandatory de-escalation
• Ban incentives tied to force

Evidence Preservation

• Strict video retention policies
• Penalties for destruction

Community Engagement

• Public forums
• Reparative programs

XI. Quick-Reference Timeline

• 2014 – SWAT raid injures Herman Crisp.
• 2017 – Live PD partnership begins.
• 2018 – Daniel McCoy dies in jail.
• 2019 – Javier Ambler dies; Watsky raid; Pisa–Nembhard incident.
• 2020 – Ambler video released; protests erupt.
• 2021 – HB 54 passed; Gleason sworn in.
• 2023 – Tijerina injured in restraint-chair incident.
• 2024 – Ambler case acquittals; Watsky settlement.
• 2025 – Lindemann sworn in; Tijerina settlement.