A Harris County grand jury has indicted a federal immigration officer accused of intentionally striking Miguel Parra-Hernandez with an unmarked SUV. The incident occurred during an immigration enforcement operation in west Harris County on Oct. 10.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced the ICE officer indictment on Friday, Oct. 30. Officials also released body-camera footage and a recording of a 911 call connected to the case.
An indictment represents a formal accusation. It does not establish guilt, and the officer is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
ICE Officer Indictment Alleges Aggravated Assault
The grand jury charged 33-year-old ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors identified the alleged deadly weapon as a motor vehicle.
The charge is a second-degree felony. Morales was not in custody when officials announced the indictment Friday, and authorities planned to issue a warrant.
Parra-Hernandez, a 48-year-old construction worker, suffered a broken leg during the encounter. Teare said he remained in federal custody at a rehabilitation facility when the indictment was announced.
The district attorney said the grand jury reviewed evidence that included surveillance recordings, body-camera video and witness information.
Video Shows Oct. 10 Encounter
The encounter happened near Clay Road and Highway 6 after ICE officers pursued a pickup truck. Parra-Hernandez left the truck and ran through a parking lot.
Surveillance footage shows an unmarked SUV crossing a median and moving toward him from behind. Another vehicle blocks the camera’s view at the moment of impact.
The body-camera recording shows Morales driving before the SUV shakes. Parra-Hernandez can then be seen on the ground in pain as the officer exits the vehicle.
Gonzalez said investigators determined that two handcuffed detainees were inside the SUV during the incident. The detainees had been taken into custody during an earlier, unrelated operation.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigated the encounter with the District Attorney’s Office. County officials said their investigators responded after Morales called 911 to request medical assistance.
ICE Disputes Harris County Account
ICE has maintained that Parra-Hernandez ran in front of the federal vehicle and was struck. The agency has denied that the collision was intentional.
In a statement following the indictment, ICE called the prosecution politically motivated. The agency also argued that local authorities lack jurisdiction to investigate federal officers acting during their official duties.
Teare rejected that position during the announcement. He said carrying a federal badge does not place an officer beyond state criminal law.
Morales’ attorney, David Lindenmuth, also denied that his client committed a crime. He described the collision as an accident and accused the district attorney of pursuing the case for political reasons.
Questions Remain About ICE Operation
ICE previously said officers were searching for Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, who allegedly had a deportation order. The agency said it believed he was traveling with Parra-Hernandez.
However, Parra-Hernandez’s relatives said they did not know the man identified by ICE. The man’s family later said he had died years earlier. Prosecutors said their investigation found no evidence that Parra-Hernandez was traveling with him.
Teare has also accused federal officials of failing to cooperate fully with the local investigation. He said the SUV left the scene before county investigators could impound it and collect vehicle data.
The case will now move through the criminal court system. Court proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can prove the aggravated assault allegation beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictment also places renewed attention on how local agencies investigate incidents involving federal immigration officers. Harris County officials urged residents with relevant information to cooperate with investigators, regardless of immigration status.