ICE Agent Accused of Deliberately Running Over Migrant in Houston Turns Himself In After Grand Jury Indictment

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly driving his unmarked SUV into a man fleeing an immigration operation in Houston, leaving the victim with a badly broken leg.

Mario Alberto Morales, 33, turned himself in on November 2 after a Harris County grand jury indicted him over the October 10 incident involving 48-year-old Miguel Parra Hernandez.

The case drew national attention after prosecutors released surveillance footage and the agent’s own body-camera video, which appeared to show the SUV turning toward Hernandez as he ran across a shopping center parking lot.

According to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Morales was pursuing a group of men when Hernandez ran from a vehicle and entered the parking lot near Clay Road and Highway 6.

Investigators say Morales drove his Jeep Grand Cherokee across a median and followed Hernandez into the parking area before striking him.

After the collision, Hernandez could be heard screaming in pain and telling the agent that he had been run over.

In the body-camera footage, Morales was also heard telling another officer: “I was coming in and I hit him with the car.”

Hernandez suffered a broken leg and other injuries that required medical treatment and rehabilitation. He remained in federal custody while recovering.

The incident has become the subject of a dispute between local prosecutors and federal authorities.

ICE previously claimed Hernandez ran in front of the agent’s vehicle. However, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said the available video contradicted that account and appeared to show Morales steering toward the fleeing man.

Teare described the evidence as particularly compelling and said prosecutors believed the agent had intentionally struck Hernandez.

Morales, however, has denied intentionally hitting him. His attorney has argued that the collision was an accident, claiming the agent was trying to avoid another vehicle. The defense has also accused the district attorney of turning the case into a political spectacle, allegations Teare has rejected.

Following his indictment, Morales appeared in Harris County court, where a judge set his bond at $30,000. He posted bond and was released, with his next court appearance scheduled for December 2.

The case has also raised questions about the relationship between local prosecutors and federal immigration authorities. Investigators previously sought access to the agent’s Jeep to examine possible electronic 𝔠r𝘢sh data, but court documents indicated that access had not been provided at the time of the filing.

Another disputed issue concerns the identity of the person ICE said it was targeting during the operation. Prosecutors have said they found no evidence that Hernandez was traveling with that individual, while his family has challenged the agency’s account.

ICE has strongly defended its agent, calling the allegations false and criticizing the local investigation. The agency maintains that its officers must be able to carry out their duties without interference from local authorities.

Morales remains charged, and the allegations against him have not yet been proven in court.

The investigation and legal proceedings are continuing, with the released footage likely to play a central role in determining what happened during the pursuit.

Source: DAILYMAIL