ICE Officer Indicted on Allegations He Ran Over Undocumented Mexican Immigrant Released on Bond

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of running over an undocumented immigrant from Mexico with a vehicle was released on a $30,000 bond Monday after appearing in court for a bond hearing, according to his attorney.

A grand jury indicted Mario Alberto Morales Friday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly struck the man, causing multiple leg fractures. Morales’ next court hearing is set for December 2, according to his attorney David Lindenmuth.

Morales was driving an ICE vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, near Houston on October 10 when he started to pursue a vehicle driven by Miguel Parra Hernandez, an ICE spokesperson said. {snip}

Parra Hernandez, 48, and another occupant in the vehicle with him began to flee on foot after Morales pursued their vehicle, Teare said. “What happened next shocked our entire community,” the district attorney said before playing video he said showed Morales striking Parra Hernandez with his vehicle.

ICE said it “immediately contacted EMS and provided aid” to Parra Hernandez. The agency claimed Parra Hernandez “ran in front of an ICE vehicle,” which Teare said contradicts findings of his investigation.

An ICE spokesperson called the allegations that Morales struck Parra Hernandez intentionally “RECKLESS and FALSE” in a statement to The Associated Press, adding local officials are not authorized to investigate federal officers following their duties.

The indictment, obtained by CNN, alleges Morales “intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly” caused serious bodily injury to Parra Hernandez “by striking the Complainant with a motor vehicle.”

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