A man and woman were in custody in connection with a hit-and-run through a crowd of protesters in downtown Riverside that critically injured a woman, police said Tuesday.
Russell Alan Prentice, 58, and 39-year-old Candase Wenzel, both Riverside residents, were arrested Monday following a Riverside Police Department investigation that began Saturday night after an SUV plowed through a crowd protesting Trump administration policies.
Both were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, where Prentice is held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony hit-and-run causing injury, police said. Wenzel was booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact and destroying evidence linked to a crime.
Prentice is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, while Wenzel is being held on $625,000 bail, according to published reports.
“From the officers in the field that night to our detectives who immediately launched the investigation, along with support from our Crime Analysis Unit, this case was solved quickly thanks to their combined efforts,” RPD Chief Larry Gonzalez said in a statement. “Equally important were the tips we received from our community, and we’re grateful for the information they provided.”
Prentice was driving his SUV in the area of University Avenue and Orange Street around 9 p.m. Saturday as marchers filled the street, taking part in one of the many nationwide No Kings rallies. Police said thousands of people participated in the downtown Riverside demonstration.
Video posted on social media shows protesters gathering near the vehicle — one of whom strikes it with an object — before the SUV abruptly turns and accelerates through the crowd.
“The SUV then fled the scene,” police spokesman Ryan Railsback said in a statement.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where she remained in critical condition Tuesday.
“Officers found the suspect vehicle’s license plate number, and detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Unit began their investigation and subsequently identified the suspect driver,” Railsback said.
Police located and arrested Prentice, the alleged driver, and Wenzel on Monday in the 4700 block of Jackson Street.
Detectives arrested Wenzel for her role in allegedly taking the suspect vehicle to Phelan and intentionally destroying and concealing evidence, according to Railsback.
Background information on the suspects was not immediately available.
