Houston ICE officer surrenders after alleged SUV ramming of Mexican construction worker

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of driving an unmarked SUV into a Mexican construction worker in Houston surrendered on Monday, according to the defence. The officer, Mario Alberto Morales, later appeared in court on a felony count. The charge alleges aggravated assault with a deadly weapon during an incident in a parking lot.

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Judge Matthew Peneguy set bond at USD 30,000 during the Monday hearing. Prosecutors had sought a USD 75,000 bond, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said. A grand jury indicted Morales, 33, on Friday. The case centres on an Oct. 10 event involving Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old construction worker.

ICE officer charges and Houston aggravated assault case

Prosecutors allege Morales chased Parra Hernandez through a parking lot before the collision. Authorities said the SUV struck Parra Hernandez during the pursuit. The felony count treats the vehicle as a deadly weapon. The hearing marked Morales’ first court appearance on the aggravated assault allegation.

ICE has asserted that Parra Hernandez ran in front of Morales vehicle, an account that prosecutors say is contradicted by video. Surveillance camera video shows Morales vehicle drive over a median and strike Parra Hernandez as he runs away. The footage has become a key point in the dispute over what happened.

Video evidence in ICE officer Houston ramming allegation

David Lindenmuth, Morales attorney, has said his client was truly a good man and did not commit a crime. The defence has disputed the allegation of intentional harm. Prosecutors have relied on the surveillance video to challenge ICE’s account. The court process is continuing after the indictment.

Parra Hernandez broke his leg and is recovering at a rehabilitation facility while in federal custody, according to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. Officials did not give a timeline for recovery. The injury details were provided as the case moved into felony court proceedings.

ICE officer background and prior case record

Lindenmuth said Morales had worked as an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer for a little more than a year. Records and statements also note Morales previously served in the Army. Morales unsuccessfully ran for Congress this year. The charge focuses on actions taken while Morales was on duty.

The case is among a small number involving federal officers charged over conduct at work during President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. Other encounters have also come under investigation. Court records show Morales was charged with a misdemeanor in 2013 for stealing four DVDs.

Harris County Court records say the 2013 theft case ended with dismissed charges. The dismissal followed a plea deal requiring Morales to pay a USD 270 fine. Morales remains charged in the Houston aggravated assault case tied to the Oct. 10 incident, with bond set and the indictment now filed.

With inputs from PTI