WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — On Tuesday, Williamson County agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from events that were captured for an episode of the "Live PD" reality TV show. 

What You Need To Know

  • Williamson County has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit over events shot for an episode of the "Live PD" reality show

  • In 2019, Gary Watsky's home was raided by Williamson County deputies over a warrant issued for his son's arrest

  • Watsky said deputies damaged his home and caused him a great deal of distress 

  • In 2020, it was revealed that footage from "Live PD" that captured the death of Javier Ambler had been destroyed 

Gary Watsky, the plaintiff, sued Williamson County, former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody, former WCSO Lt. Mark Luera, former WCSO Cmdr. Steve Deaton and several deputies. 

On May 2, 2019, Watsky’s residence was searched by the Williamson County Sheriff’s SWAT team on a no-knock warrant for his son’s arrest.

In the lawsuit, Watsky said that the raid caused damage to his home and the "Live PD" episode resulted in a panic attack and embarrassment in front of his neighbors.

“This settlement is a critical step toward holding those in power accountable for their actions,” said Brad Vinson, Watsky’s attorney. “While no amount of money can undo the harm our client endured, this resolution sends a strong message that civil rights violations will not be tolerated.”

This isn't the only fallout from the now-canceled reality television program, which aired on the A&E network from 2016 to 2020. 

In June 2020, it came to light that footage from the show that captured the death of 40-year-old Javier Ambler had been destroyed.

Ambler, who was Black, didn’t stop when Williamson County deputies tried to pull him over for failing to dim his high beams. When Ambler eventually stopped and exited his vehicle, deputies used a Taser on him several times and pinned him.

Ambler told police that he couldn’t breathe.

In September 2020, Chody was arrested on evidence tampering charges.

In 2021, he was indicted along with two of his former deputies on manslaughter charges.