ICE Officer Indicted After Vehicle Strike

Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced Friday that a grand jury indicted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Mario Alberto Morales on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Teare stated that a conviction could result in a prison sentence ranging from two to 20 years.

The incident occurred on October 10 when Morales pursued a vehicle driven by Miguel Parra-Hernandez. According to Teare, Parra-Hernandez is a Mexican national who has resided in Texas for more than 30 years without documentation. The district attorney noted that Parra-Hernandez had no criminal record and no active deportation order at the time of the chase.

During the pursuit, Parra-Hernandez and a companion exited the vehicle and ran on foot. Video footage played at a press conference showed Morales striking Parra-Hernandez with his 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Body camera audio captured Morales saying, "Like, I was coming in, and I hit him with the car." The impact left Parra-Hernandez with a broken leg, and the recording showed him groaning in pain on the ground.

ICE previously told CBS News that Parra-Hernandez ran in front of the agency vehicle. Teare addressed that account by revealing the agents were actually pursuing Jose Mendoza-Cervantes. The agency described Mendoza-Cervantes as an undocumented Mexican national, but Teare said the man has apparently been dead for nine years.