RITA COOK / Freelance Writer
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ELLIS COUNTY – U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported on Jan. 4 their officers at the Laredo Port of Entry detained Francisco Morales, 59 for an outstanding felony warrant for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle.
The warrant was issued by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office stemming from charges related to a Ferris case.
Ferris reported the warrant was related to an incident on Nov. 13, 2022, in which Morales was driving a vehicle northbound on Interstate 45 and was involved in a collision with a 2007 Dodge Ram.
Morales left the scene and the collision resulted in the death of the occupant of the Dodge Ram, identified as Billi Perales.
“The Ferris Department of Public Safety, after a thorough investigation, found probable cause to believe that Mr. Morales violated Section 550.021 (a)(1)(3) and (4) of the Texas Transportation Code.
This statute mandates that a vehicle operator involved in an accident resulting in injury or death must stop, render aid, and remain at the scene until fulfilling certain legal requirements.
“Failure to comply, particularly resulting in a fatality, constitutes a felony of the second degree.”
On March 13, 2023, an Affidavit of Probable Cause for Mr. Morales’ arrest was presented to Ellis County District Court Judge W. Wallace, who subsequently issued the warrant.
“We were informed on March 15, 2023, that Mr. Morales surrendered himself to the Ellis County Jail. The case, involving Mr. Morales, has been officially cleared by arrest by the Ferris Department of Public Safety.”
However, a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reported on Tuesday, Jan. 2, their officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge discovered Morales, a U.S. citizen passenger aboard a commercial bus, for secondary inspection.
Where was no indication of the reason for the secondary examination, but it was noted CBP officers utilizing biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases verified Morales’ identity and discovered he was the subject of an outstanding felony arrest warrant for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle issued by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office out of Waxahachie.
The warrant was confirmed to be active and CBP officers transported Morales to Webb County jail to await criminal proceedings.
The City of Ferris had no additional information regarding the arrest of Morales this past weekend and referred questions to the Ferris Department of Public Safety, Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, or the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office.
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