Arrests Made After Woman Is Run Over At 'No Kings Day' Protest In Riverside

RIVERSIDE, CA — A driver suspected of plowing into a young woman during the June 14 No Kings Day protest in downtown Riverside was found and arrested.

Russell Alan Prentice, 58, of Riverside was taken into custody Monday evening by Riverside police and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder, hit-and-run, and committing a hate crime.

He was arrested shortly after 5 p.m. in the 4700 block of Jackson Street in Riverside, jail records show. He's being held in lieu of $1.25 million bail.

A woman, identified as 39-year-old Riverside resident Candase Wenzel, was arrested alongside Prentice. According to the Riverside Police Department, she was an accessory after the fact and destroyed evidence by taking the black SUV that Prentice was allegedly driving and bringing it to Phelan.

Wenzel is being held at the same county jail as Prentice, with her bail set at $625,000.

Both suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

It's not clear what sparked Prentice's alleged rage against the protesters. Police say he drove to the downtown Riverside area Saturday night, where several thousand people were participating in the No Kings Day protest.

"Around 9:10 p.m., a large group of protesters were marching along University Avenue between Orange and Main Streets when a black SUV drove toward the crowd, striking a young woman," the Riverside PD reported. "The SUV then fled the scene."

Paramedics treated the victim and transported her to a local hospital, where she remains in critical but stable condition, police said Tuesday night. Her identity was not released.

Investigators with the Riverside Police Department were able to track Prentice via his license plate number, the agency said.

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez thanked his officers for their combined efforts in making arrests in the case.

He also thanked the community.

"Equally important," he said, "were the tips we received from our community, and we’re grateful for the information they provided."

The investigation into Saturday night's incident continues. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Mike Smith at MikeSmith@RiversideCA.gov or 951-353-7103, or Detective Nic Cantino at NCantino@RiversideCA.gov or 951-353-7104. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app using the secure “Send a Message” feature.

Another arrest was made over the weekend connected to alleged threats against protesters.

A La Quinta man suspected of placing an online threat to shoot people at a Palm Springs "No Kings" rally was out on bail Sunday.

Edward Miranda, 28, was arrested and booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on Saturday on suspicion of making criminal threats and violating civil rights, police said.

He was out on $200,000 bail on Sunday.

According to the Palm Springs Police Department, shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, officers were notified of an online threat to target attendees at Saturday's rally. In collaboration with the FBI, Miranda was identified as the suspect and search warrants were served at his residence on Eisenhower Drive in La Quinta and another residence in San Bernardino County, authorities said.

A firearm allegedly belonging to Miranda was seized at one of the properties, and he was taken into custody without incident.

"We take all threats to public safety seriously and will vigorously pursue those intent on committing violence in our community," Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills said.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information about the alleged threat in Palm Springs was urged to contact the police department at 760-327-1441, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.

Multiple No Kings Day demonstrations took place across Riverside County on June 14, drawing thousands of protesters who voiced criticism of the Trump administration.

Despite the large size of many of the Riverside County protests, they were largely peaceful.