As reported by KPRC Click2Houston, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who allegedly hit a man with his SUV purposely during a west Harris County immigration operation expected to surrender to authorities Monday morning. According to his defense counsel, Mario Alberto Morales will present himself at the 488th District Court between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The upcoming surrender follows an indictment handed down Friday by a Harris County grand jury. Morales faces a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an October 10 confrontation that left Miguel Parra Hernandez with severe leg injuries requiring surgery.
Prosecutors Use Video Evidence Against Federal Agent
Newly released body-camera video captures the tense moments unfolding near Clay Road and Highway 6. In the footage, an agent shouts, “We got a runner,” as Parra Hernandez flees from immigration officers on foot. Prosecutors allege that Morales subsequently drove his SUV directly into Parra Hernandez.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare stated that the collected evidence, which includes both body-worn camera footage and local surveillance recordings, firmly supports the criminal indictment against the federal agent. “I hope that also sends a loud and clear message to every ICE officer who feels that they have a free pass to terrorize our streets,” Teare said.
Defense Claims Collision Was Purely Accidental
On the other side of the courtroom, Morales’ legal representation strongly disputes the state’s narrative. His attorney maintains that the collision was purely accidental and that the agent never intended to make physical contact with Parra Hernandez.
Under Texas law, a second-degree felony conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon carries a prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years. Monday morning’s court proceedings at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse are expected to address bond conditions and establish the procedural timeline for the unfolding criminal case.
