DA looking to interview 2 witnesses in backseat of ICE vehicle in Houston incident
Two people were allegedly in the back seat of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle when an agent struck a man during a pursuit in Texas on Saturday and are now sought for questioning by local investigators, the Harris County District Attorney's Office said.
DA Sean Teare told ABC News Wednesday that his office identified the two ICE detainees who were in the vehicle when the unidentified agent struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez at a strip mall outside Houston.
"We were not able to interview them at the scene," Teare told ABC News, adding that federal agents had already moved the two persons away to a detention facility.
The DA said his office alleged that ICE had picked up the two people before the incident with Parra-Hernandez earlier in the day.
Teare said he reached out to the federal government to let them know the two men, who are still in a detention center, are material witnesses in their investigation into the incident.
ICE said in a statement that an agent was pursuing Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, a Mexican national who they allege had a criminal record and a final order of removal by a judge, and observed him get in a vehicle with Parra Saturday morning.
The ICE agent attempted a car stop, and Mendoza-Cervantes and Parra-Hernandez, who the agency alleged is also undocumented, fled their vehicle on foot, according to ICE and the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Surveillance video of the incident reviewed by ABC News appears to show the ICE vehicle moving in the direction of the man running and striking him.
An ICE spokesperson alleged in a statement that Parra "ran in front of an ICE vehicle" when he was hit.
"Allegations that ICE struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez intentionally are RECKLESS and FALSE. The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct," the spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.
ICE did not comment on Teare's claims that there were two men in the back seat of the vehicle during the incident. Mendoza-Cervantes remains at large as of Wednesday afternoon, according to ICE.
The DA said his office interviewed Parra on Tuesday in the hospital, where he is in stable condition. The DA said he has not been charged with a crime.
The DA said he is also collecting more evidence from the incident and could possibly issue charges against the ICE agent for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Teare said his office will attempt to interview the ICE agent.
"Context is important. We want to see what led up to the confrontation," the DA said.
ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.
