The Williamson County Commissioners have reached a $2.5 million settlement with Asher Watsky, whose arrest was broadcast on the now-canceled reality TV show "Live PD". KVUE Defenders highlighted how deputies used a SWAT team and flash bangs to enter Watsky's home for an assault charge, an arrest thought to be staged for television. It emerged that a warrant for Watsky's arrest had been withdrawn from a database earlier that day, as he was present at the Williamson County courthouse for another case, avoiding a less dramatic arrest scenario.
In a quiet verdict delivered at their regular meeting without public discussion, the county hopes "this outcome not only brings some measure of closure to our client but also encourages a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability and respect for constitutional rights across law enforcement," Watsky's attorney Brad Vinson stated in a release covered by KVUE. This settlement is second only to the $5 million paid to the family of Javier Ambler II, who died in 2019 after being repeatedly tasered by deputies during a chase that was also filmed for "Live PD".
The story traces back to a series of controversies involving former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody, whose tenure saw a spike in aggressive policing, arguably spotlighted and perhaps exacerbated by the department's participation in "Live PD". The Austin American-Statesman reported that Williamson County taxpayers are now grappling with the consequences of these actions, facing increased insurance premiums and over a dozen lawsuits from Chody's term. Among these suits is one filed by the family of Javier Ambler II, which points to a troubling pattern of violence associated with law enforcement's embrace of reality TV spectacle.
Chody, along with attorney Jason Nassour, has been indicted on evidence tampering charges, accused of taking steps to make certain the footage of Ambler's last moments disappeared, a claim both men deny. Morris, Chody’s attorney, told the Austin American-Statesman, "They need to buck up and litigate these things," suggesting that the county’s inclination to settle could incentivize more lawsuits. Despite the outcry, some of the legal entanglements predate Chody's administration, reflecting a legacy of law enforcement issues in Williamson County.
These lawsuits cloud the future of Williamson County, aiming to slowly rehabilitate its image and practices. Current Sheriff Mike Gleason remarked on the incumbent duty to "clean this up and make it right", acknowledging the direct impact these cases have on taxpayers. The path to reform continues under his watch, with hopes that the end of these litigations will mark a new beginning for the way justice is administered within the county’s borders. Williamson County's struggle with this litigious legacy serves as a broader commentary on the implications of police work doubling as entertainment—a spectacle that may captivate audiences but at a profound human and financial cost.
