Cases of Javier Ambler, Michael Ramos to be delayed till next year, DA says after election loss
Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said Wednesday that she will not take two high-profile use-of-force cases — one in which an Austin officer shot and killed Michael Ramos and another that concluded with the death of Javier Ambler II after Williamson County deputies used a stun gun on him multiple times — to a grand jury this year and will instead let the future district attorney handle the cases next year.
Moore had previously planned to present these cases to a special grand jury next month.
The news comes a week after Moore lost the Democratic primary runoff election to challenger José Garza. In heavily Democratic Travis County, Garza will be a strong favorite over Republican candidate Martin Harry in the November election to become Travis County’s next district attorney. The new district attorney will take office Jan. 1.
Moore said she believes it will be best for Garza to take the reins of both cases because voters selected him and part of his platform was about changing how these types of cases are prosecuted.
“I believe the community has clearly stated it would like to see the new administration oversee the prosecution of these cases from beginning to end,” Moore said. “We are mindful of the possible pain and discomfort to the families of Mr. Ambler and Mr. Ramos by delaying the presentation to a grand jury. We have reached out to the families through their representatives to inform them of this decision and explained our reasons for doing so. We have taken into careful consideration all factors, including the impact this decision would have on the families, and believe that it is the responsible thing to do out of deference to and respect for what can only be viewed as the community’s mandate in the recent election.”
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200722/cases-of-javier-ambler-michael-ramos-to-be-delayed-till-next-year-da-says-after-election-loss