A tense standoff on the bridge to Coast Guard Island escalated dramatically last week, leading to federal charges against a demonstrator who allegedly accelerated a U-Haul truck directly toward a line of United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel.
Brendan Munro Thompson, 26, also known as Bella Thompson and Bella Castillo, faced a federal district court this morning, charged with assaulting federal officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
The incident occurred late on the night of October 23, 2025, near Coast Guard Base Alameda. According to the criminal complaint unsealed today, USCG personnel were guarding the bridge connecting Coast Guard Island with Oakland, where demonstrators had gathered to protest the potential deployment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security personnel for immigration enforcement in San Francisco.
The complaint alleges that at approximately 10:00 p.m., Thompson drove a 10-foot U-Haul truck onto the eastern part of the bridge. Thompson then began backing the vehicle toward the stationed USCG personnel.
As the truck reversed toward the line of officers, it allegedly stopped and started several times before accelerating rapidly backward. Despite shouted orders to stop, the U-Haul continued to gain speed, coming within an estimated 15 to 20 feet of the USCG personnel. Officers reported fearing they would be struck, or that the vehicle might contain an explosive device.
In response to the alleged escalating threat, USCG personnel fired their weapons in self-defense at the truck.
Thompson ultimately drove away and later received medical treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot injury sustained during the incident.
“As alleged, Thompson drove a U-Haul truck directly into a line of Coast Guard personnel who were protecting the Coast Guard base… there is zero tolerance for assault on federal officers or property, and those who do so will face federal criminal charges,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo echoed this, stating, “Attempting to use a truck to assault federal officers performing their lawful duties is not protest, it is a violent and serious federal crime.”
Thompson will next appear in federal court on November 10, 2025, for a status on detention and preliminary hearing.
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