ICE officer faces assault charge after Houston vehicle incident

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer surrendered to authorities on Monday following an indictment on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Mario Alberto Morales, 33, is accused of striking 48-year-old Miguel Parra Hernandez with an unmarked SUV during an enforcement operation on Oct. 10.

The incident occurred in a parking lot, resulting in injuries to Parra Hernandez, including a broken leg and ankle. The victim is currently being held at a federal rehabilitation facility. Following his surrender, Morales appeared in court on Monday, where Judge Matthew Peneguy set his bond at $30,000.

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced the indictment, which was handed down on Oct. 30. Teare stated that surveillance footage shows the vehicle moving over a median toward the victim as he was fleeing. The District Attorney argued that federal officers are not exempt from legal accountability when performing their duties.

ICE officials have contested the charges, characterizing the indictment as a political move by local authorities. In a statement, the agency asserted that allegations of intentional harm are false and maintained that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle. ICE further argued that federal officers acting in their official capacity should be subject to investigation only by federal agencies.

Lindenmuth described the incident as an accident and stated that the defense plans to file a motion to move the case from state court to federal court. Morales is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 2.