ICE says a man ‘ran in front of an ICE vehicle’ in Houston, while security video shows the vehicle jump a median and swerve toward his path
The Harris County district attorney stated the officer ‘aggressively steered his vehicle’ into the man.
A Texas grand jury has indicted an ICE officer on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon over an Oct. 10 collision in Houston that injured a man. According to NBC News, the grand jury indicted Mario Alberto Morales, 33, in connection with the incident involving Miguel Parra Hernandez. An indictment is a formal charge and not a finding of guilt.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare discussed the case at a news conference and played body camera video. In the footage, Parra states, “You ran over me,” and the officer states, “I was coming in and I hit him with the car.” Teare stated that Morales “aggressively steered his vehicle” into Parra.
ICE gave a different account. The agency earlier stated that Parra “ran in front of an ICE vehicle and was struck.” ICE called the allegation of intent “reckless” and “false,” and described the indictment as “nothing more than a political stunt by Houston sanctuary politicians.” Security video obtained by KPRC shows the vehicle jump a median and swerve toward his path, the report states.
Officer placed on administrative leave
Morales has been placed on administrative leave, and the report describes the indictment as the first of an immigration agent in Texas. It follows the charging of ICE officer Christian Castro in Minnesota over the January Sosa-Celis shooting. Other enforcement actions by the agency have drawn coverage as well, including ICE questioning a Minnesota woman and ICE keeping Leqaa Kordia detained.
Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a second-degree felony in Texas, which carries up to 20 years in prison upon conviction. The collision occurred near Clay Road and Highway 6 during an enforcement operation. Parra, 48, suffered multiple fractures to his right leg and underwent surgery. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated that two men were handcuffed in the back seat of Morales’ SUV during the pursuit. “I know of no law enforcement agency that would deem that to be acceptable,” Gonzalez added.
Teare stated, “An ICE badge does not give you free rein to injure, kill or violate the constitutional rights of anyone.” He added that “the time to stop is now, and if you don’t, you will be held accountable.” His office opened an investigation days after the incident, and he told KTRK-TV that he believed the officer hit Parra intentionally.
ICE stated its officers were searching for a man with a deportation order and that Parra left the same vehicle as that man. Parra’s attorney, Kim Bruno, stated her client does not know the man and was not with him that day. The man ICE identified as its target reportedly died in 2017, which Teare confirmed.
Teare is also presenting a July 7 ICE shooting to the same grand jury.
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