ICE officer surrenders after SUV ramming in Houston

Mario Alberto Morales, a 33-year-old U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, turned himself in on Monday. He faces a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The charge stems from an incident on Oct. 10 in Houston. Morales allegedly rammed his unmarked SUV into Miguel Parra Hernandez, a 48-year-old Mexican construction worker. The collision occurred in a parking lot while Morales pursued Parra Hernandez. A grand jury indicted Morales on Friday following the event.

Morales made his first court appearance on Monday. Judge Matthew Peneguy set his bond at $30,000. Prosecutors from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office had requested a higher bond of $75,000. Morales has worked as an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer for just over a year. He served in the Army and ran unsuccessfully for Congress this year.

Prosecutors rely on surveillance video to build their case. The footage shows Morales’ vehicle drive over a median and strike Parra Hernandez as the worker runs away. ICE maintains that Parra Hernandez ran in front of the vehicle, an account the DA’s office says the video contradicts.

Parra Hernandez suffered a broken leg. He is recovering at a rehabilitation facility while remaining in federal custody, according to Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. David Lindenmuth, Morales’ attorney, stated that his client was a good man who did not commit a crime.

Court records show Morales had a prior criminal history. In 2013, he was charged with a misdemeanor for stealing four DVDs. Those charges were dismissed after he paid a $270 fine as part of a plea deal.

Morales is one of a small number of federal officers facing criminal charges for on-the-job actions during the current administration’s immigration efforts. Other encounters involving federal officers are under investigation.