Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced he is evaluating felony assault charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in a vehicular incident in west Houston on Saturday morning. The officer’s unmarked SUV struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez, a 48-year-old man, as he ran across a parking lot, resulting in serious hip and leg injuries requiring multiple surgeries. Teare stated the video evidence appears to show an intentional act and could support an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge, which carries a possible sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment.
Ice conceded that Parra-Hernandez was not the intended target of the traffic stop but stated he was in the country illegally. His legal representatives reported he remains hospitalized under ICE supervision. The incident occurred after the agency implemented new guidelines for traffic stops earlier this month, following a series of violent and fatal confrontations involving federal immigration officers during the summer.
Teare reported that ICE has refused to cooperate with his investigation and denied requests for access to data from the vehicle’s recorder. He stated the ICE agent drove away from the scene before sheriff’s deputies arrived, preventing the confiscation of the vehicle for forensic examination. Teare expressed concern that two other individuals in ICE custody were placed in danger during the pursuit of Parra-Hernandez, noting such pursuit protocols violate standard law enforcement practices.
An ICE spokesperson characterized allegations of intentional striking as “reckless and false” and stated the agency holds its personnel to high standards of professionalism. The operation targeted Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, described as an undocumented immigrant with prior arrests and a removal order. Parra-Hernandez’s attorney stated her client fled because he did not recognize the unmarked vehicle and was unaware of his identity. She noted he has no criminal record and was traveling to work when the incident occurred.
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