A Houston grand jury indicted Mario Alberto Morales, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, prosecutors said Friday. The Harris County District Attorney's Office said Morales drove an unmarked SUV into Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, on Oct. 10 as Parra Hernandez ran away during a pursuit through a parking lot. Parra Hernandez broke his leg, District Attorney Sean Teare said.
Teare said body camera video and a recording of Morales calling 911 support the case. He said the video contradicts ICE's account that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle. ICE said allegations that it struck him intentionally are false. Morales is charged with a second-degree felony. He was not in custody Friday, and Teare said a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
Morales's attorney, David Lindenmuth, said his client did not commit a crime. Lindenmuth accused Teare of bringing the charge for political gain. He said Morales had worked as an ICE officer for a little more than a year and previously served in the military. Morales is one of only a few federal officers charged over actions on the job during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.