Federal charges filed against California man who allegedly drove U-Haul toward Coast Guard officers

Federal prosecutors have charged a -year-old Oakland California man after he allegedly drove a U-Haul truck toward U S Coast Guard personnel guarding a California base last month prompting officers to open fire in a dramatic happening caught on video According to court documents unsealed Tuesday Brendan Munro Thompson who also goes by Bella Thompson and Bella Castillo was charged with assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon after allegedly driving a U-Haul truck toward personnel stationed outside Coast Guard Base Alameda on Oct Video of the matter shows the U-Haul reversing toward assurance personnel positioned near a barricade at around p m on the bridge connecting Coast Guard Island to Oakland Gunfire erupted moments later as officers shouted orders from behind cover The driver then hit the gas and sped away DRAMATIC VIDEO SHOWS SHIPPING CONTAINERS TOPPLING OFF CARGO SHIP IN CALIFORNIAThe Coast Guard reported the truck had been driving erratically and attempting to back into the base and that assurance officers fired several rounds of live fire after the driver ignored multiple verbal commands to stop The military branch also commented that when the car s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard and precaution personnel law enforcement officers discharged several rounds of live fire Government mentioned the truck had been parked outside the base for preponderance of the day before the confrontation Photographs from the aftermath show agents inspecting the abandoned box truck after the driver fled ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED FOR RAMMING TRUCK INTO FEDERAL OFFICERS IN CALIFORNIATwo men later arrived at local hospitals with gunshot wounds both with non-life-threatening injuries according to the FBI San Francisco Field Office One of those men identified as Thompson was treated and taken into custody Court documents allege that Thompson reversed the truck several times before accelerating rapidly toward Coast Guard personnel who feared the bicycle could strike them or contain explosives When the U-Haul continued to back up toward the line of officers Coast Guard personnel fired their weapons in self-defense As alleged Thompson drove a U-Haul truck directly into a line of Coast Guard personnel who were protecting the Coast Guard base as they bravely do day in and day out U S Attorney Craig H Missakian disclosed Let this be clear there is zero tolerance for assault on federal officers or property and those who do so will face federal criminal charges TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SUBJECTS INDICTED ON ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES IN CBP OFFICER SHOOTING SITUATION IN NYCFBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo noted the bureau stands firmly with our federal law enforcement partners and will inevitably work to protect those who protect our communities Attempting to use a truck to assault federal officers performing their lawful duties is not protest it is a violent and serious federal crime Cobo added The confrontation followed a protest outside the base earlier that day where demonstrators reportedly tried to block U S Customs and Limit Protection agents from entering Dozens of California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear were deployed to disperse the crowd and two people were detained according to local reports TOW TRUCK DRIVER SLAPPED WITH FEDERAL CHARGE AFTER HAULING AWAY ICE CARRIAGE 'HE CAN LAUGH BEHIND BARS'At the time Coast Guard Island had been designated as a likely staging area for a postponed federal deployment to San Francisco President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had called off the plan after speaking with local leaders who explained progress was being made on general safety Thompson made an initial court appearance on Tuesday morning and is scheduled for a detention and preliminary hearing on Nov before U S Magistrate Judge Kandis A Westmore If convicted Thompson faces up to years in prison and a fine Fox News Digital s Elizabeth Pritchett Michael Dorgan and Alexandra Koch contributed to this analysis