Federal authorities have charged a 26-year-old man from Oakland, California, in connection with a recent incident involving a U-Haul truck being driven towards U.S. Coast Guard personnel at a California base. This event took place last month and was captured on video, which led to officers firing shots.
The individual, identified as Brendan Munroe Thompson (also known as Vera Thompson and Vera Castillo), faces allegations of assaulting a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. According to court documents released on Tuesday, he is accused of steering the U-Haul toward Coast Guard personnel stationed outside the Alameda Coast Guard Station on October 23.
Footage from the incident shows the U-Haul backing up towards a security guard near a barricade on the bridge linking Coast Guard Island to Oakland around 10 p.m. An officer called out commands from the dark, followed by the sound of gunfire, after which the driver accelerated and drove away.
The Coast Guard reported that the truck was behaving erratically and ignoring numerous verbal commands to stop, which led the guards to fire multiple live rounds. Officials indicated that the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of coast guard members.
After remaining parked for much of the day, the truck’s operator fled, leaving the authorities to inspect the abandoned vehicle. Interestingly, two men later arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds, neither in critical condition. One of those injured was Thompson, who received treatment before being taken into custody.
Court documents suggest Thompson backed the truck multiple times before accelerating directly towards Coast Guard officials who feared for their safety. In response to the perceived threat, they resorted to firing in self-defense.
“As alleged, Thompson drove his U-Haul truck directly into the line of Coast Guard personnel protecting the Coast Guard base, which they bravely do every day,” remarked U.S. Attorney Craig H. Misakian. He emphasized that assaults on federal employees or property are taken seriously and will result in severe consequences.
The altercation occurred amid protests earlier that day, where demonstrators allegedly attempted to obstruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from entering the base. This led to a deployment of California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear to manage the situation, resulting in a couple of arrests.
At the time, Coast Guard Island was serving as a designated area for federal operations in San Francisco. Following discussions with local leadership, President Trump decided to halt certain government plans, stating that progress was being made on public safety.
Thompson’s initial court appearance took place on Tuesday morning, and he is scheduled for a detention and preliminary hearing on November 10. Should he be convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a hefty fine of $250,000.
