A Texas prosecutor is contemplating felony assault charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who allegedly ran over a man during an attempted traffic stop, resulting in severe injuries.
Incident Overview
The incident occurred on Saturday morning in west Houston, where video footage shows the officer's unmarked SUV veering into Miguel Parra-Hernandez as he fled across an empty parking lot. The collision left Parra-Hernandez with multiple fractures in his leg. Sean Teare, the district attorney for Harris County, indicated that the evidence could support a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
“"It’s pretty obvious that this was an intentional striking and running over of the person by the vehicle," Teare stated, noting that this view was shared by many investigators who reviewed the footage.
Current Condition of the Victim
As of Wednesday, Parra-Hernandez remained under ICE supervision at a hospital in Houston, where he is being treated for serious hip and leg injuries that will require multiple surgeries. ICE has acknowledged that he was not the target of the traffic stop but confirmed that he is in the country illegally.
Investigation Details
The video evidence shows the officer pursuing Parra-Hernandez, which appears to contradict new guidelines for traffic stops that were implemented earlier this month. These guidelines were introduced following a series of violent confrontations involving federal immigration officers over the summer.
