Federal prosecutors filed charges against Brendan Munro Thompson (also known as Bella Thompson and Bella Castillo), 26, with “assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon by accelerating a U-Haul truck as it approached several United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel on October 23,” according to information released by the U.S. District Attorney’s Office.
The incident took place at around 10 p.m. at the entrance to Coast Guard Island, where a daylong protest against a federal immigration surge — later called-off — had taken place hours earlier, according to a KTVU News report.
The criminal complaint, filed on October 30, alleges that Thompson drove a 10-foot-long U-Haul truck onto the eastern part of the bridge, then backed the truck onto the bridge, with its rear end facing toward Coast Guard Island. Several U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) personnel were positioned in a line across the bridge, according to the District Attorney’s report.
“After reversing toward the USCG personnel, the U-Haul truck moved forward several yards and appeared to adjust course before stopping again,” the complaint alleges. “The U-Haul truck then accelerated rapidly backward towards the line of USCG personnel, who backed up further as the U-Haul gained speed and continued to close the distance with them.”
USCG personnel shouted orders to the driver to stop, but the truck continued to accelerate, according to the complaint.
“The U-Haul accelerated towards USCG personnel to an estimated 15 to 20 feet, causing (them) to fear the possibility that the truck would strike them or their colleagues, or that it contained explosives or had an explosive device,” the District Attorney’s office stated. “When the driver did not stop and continued to rapidly accelerate backward toward the line of USCG personnel, USCG personnel defensively fired their weapons at the U-Haul truck.”
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After the initial gunshots, the van reversed more quickly for another few seconds before coming to a halt and then quickly pulling forward, according to a KQED News report. The vehicle appeared to pause for about 30 seconds at the intersection leading off the bridge before driving away.
The U-Haul was later found abandoned on a street in Oakland. Thompson appeared to have been experiencing a mental health crisis prior to the incident, according to the KQED report. Thompson was treated for injuries at Highland Hospital and then taken to John George Psychiatric Hospital, where she was evaluated before being booked into Santa Rita Jail, the KQED report stated. According to a now deleted GoFundMe page set up in October, she had recently lost housing and income during a “bipolar disorder episode.”
The 26-year-old is facing one count of assault against federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If convicted, Thompson could receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b).
“Attempting to use a truck to assault federal officers performing their lawful duties is not protest, it is a violent and serious federal crime,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo.
Kris Ness, one of the protest participants, told KTVU that Thompson acted alone. “In fact, we tried to stop them,” Ness said. “It’s a really terrible picture for the rest of us.” Noting that Thompson refused to talk with them, Ness added, “It was all around just a really weird, dangerous, and unfortunate situation.”
Thompson will next appear in federal district court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore for a status on detention and preliminary hearing on November 10.
