Police have detained a guy who allegedly drove through a throng of demonstrators and critically injured a woman during a weekend event in downtown Riverside.
It happened around 9:10 p.m. Saturday on University Avenue between Orange and Main Streets, when several thousand protesters had assembled for one of hundreds of “No Kings” protests held around the world.
According to authorities, a black SUV drove into the gathering and hit a young woman before fleeing.
A video shared online captured the moment a vehicle veered suddenly toward the marchers and accelerated, striking at least one person before driving away. “They just ran over my sister,” a lady shouts in the video.
Paramedics treated the injured woman on the scene and transported her to the hospital, where she is in critical but stable condition.
Using the SUV’s registration plate, robbery-homicide detectives identified the driver as Russell Prentice, 58, of Riverside.
Prentice was arrested on Monday in the 4700 block of Jackson Street and put into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, where he faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run resulting in injury.
Police also detained 39-year-old Candase Wenzel of Riverside, who they allege assisted in moving the vehicle to Phelan and attempted to destroy and conceal evidence. According to authorities, she is charged with accessory after the fact and destruction of evidence.
“From the officers in the field that night to our detectives who immediately launched the investigation, along with support from our Crime Analysis Unit and METRO Team, this case was solved quickly thanks to their combined efforts,” Larry Gonzalez, Riverside’s police chief, stated. “Equally important were the tips we received from our community.”
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information should contact the Riverside Police Department.
