Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Mario Alberto Morales surrendered in Houston on Monday. He was indicted last week on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a Harris County crash that left a man hospitalized. Morales appeared in court Monday morning, and his bond was set at $30,000.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said officials responded to the crash around 7:20 a.m. on Oct. 10 near Clay Road and Highway 6. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, a white truck with two men inside began driving the wrong way on Clay Road before it stopped. The two men got out and ran. One escaped on foot. The other, Miguel Parra Hernandez, was struck by an ICE vehicle and taken to a local hospital, where he had surgery for a broken leg. District Attorney Sean Teare said Parra was still hospitalized as of Friday.
The indictment charges Morales with a second-degree felony, which under Texas law carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison. Officials said Morales was hired by ICE as part of a surge hiring in August 2025. The District Attorney's Office said it has not received his training records. At a news conference Friday, officials showed body camera video of the incident and played a 911 call. David Lindenmuth, Morales's attorney, has responded to the charges.