Feds charge suspected U-Haul driver at Oakland immigration protest with assault

"The person whom federal authorities believe was shot while accelerating a U-Haul truck backward toward federal agents at a Coast Guard Island protest two weeks ago has been charged in federal court with assaulting federal officers. Bella Thompson, who also goes by Bella Castillo or Brendan Munro Thompson, according to prosecutors, is accused of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon."

"On the evening of Oct. 23, several U.S. Coast Guard agents were standing watch on the bridge connecting Coast Guard Island to Oakland. Demonstrators had been protesting the planned immigration enforcement operation in the San Francisco Bay Area since early in the morning. Around 10 p.m., the driver of a U-Haul rental truck drove onto the bridge and accelerated in reverse toward the federal agents. Video of the incident shows the U-Haul did not hit any of the Coast Guard personnel."

Federal authorities charged Bella Thompson with assault on a federal officer after an Oct. 23 incident. U.S. Coast Guard agents were on the bridge connecting Coast Guard Island to Oakland during demonstrations. A U-Haul rental drove onto the bridge and accelerated in reverse toward the agents; video shows the truck did not hit personnel. Agents feared the vehicle was an improvised explosive device or concealed shooters, and they fired on the truck. A nearby bystander was struck by a bullet fragment, treated, and released. After the shooting the driver steered onto Dennison Street, exited, and entered another car. The case remains under seal.

Read at The Oaklandside