Latest news with #RussellPrentice
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
California man arrested after running down 'No Kings Day' marcher in Riverside
A 58-year-old convicted felon accused of intentionally driving into a crowd of protesters marching along a downtown Riverside street, seriously injuring one of them, pleaded not guilty Friday to felony charges, along with his girlfriend. Russell Alan Prentice and 39-year-old Candase Wenzel, both of Riverside, were arrested Monday following a Riverside Police Department investigation that began Saturday night. Prentice is charged with assault using a deadly weapon, hit-and-run and sentence-enhancing allegations of inflicting great bodily injury and leaving the victim comatose. Wenzel is charged with being an accessory after the fact. The defendants were jointly arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Melissa Hale, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for July 1 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The pair are being held at the Robert Presley Jail —Prentice on $1 million bail, Wenzel on $10,000 bail. "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," police Chief Larry Gonzalez said Tuesday. "Equally important were the tips we received from our community, and we're grateful for the information they provided." Here's what to know about the case. Prentice was driving his SUV in the area of University Avenue and Orange Street shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday when he encountered marchers taking part in one of the many "No Kings" rallies that occurred nationwide. The organized events drew a variety of interests to denounce the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions and other policies, timed to coincide with the 47th president's birthday. Police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback alleged that Prentice floored his SUV, aiming directly for a number of demonstrators making their way along University, between Orange and Main streets. A young woman was unable to jump out of the vehicle's path and was struck. "The SUV then fled the scene," the police spokesman said. The victim, whose identity was not disclosed, was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where she remained in critical but stable condition Friday. "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. A search warrant was served at Prentice's residence on Jackson Street Monday afternoon, when the defendant was taken into custody without incident. "Detectives also arrested Wenzel ... for her role in taking the suspect vehicle to Phelan, intentionally destroying and concealing evidence," Railsback said. She was taken into custody at the same time and place as Prentice. He has documented prior felony convictions in another jurisdiction that weren't listed in court records. Wenzel has no documented priors. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California man arrested after running down 'No Kings Day' marcher
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Man who allegedly struck woman at Riverside ‘No Kings' protest is arrested
Police on Monday arrested a man accused of driving an SUV that struck a 21-year-old woman marching at a 'No Kings' protest in Riverside. She remains hospitalized in critical condition. Russell Prentice, 58, of Riverside was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and hit-and-run causing injury, the Riverside Police Department said Tuesday. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside. Candase Wenzel was also arrested. The 39-year-old Riverside woman is accused of having a role in taking the SUV more than 30 miles away to the remote unincorporated area of Phelan in the Mojave Desert, 'intentionally destroying and concealing evidence,' the Police Department said. Prentice allegedly fled after driving a black SUV toward a crowd of protesters marching along University Avenue, between Orange and Main streets, and striking the woman at around 9:10 p.m. Saturday. Police haven't identified the victim, but a woman who called herself a friend and created a GoFundMe page identified her as Alexa Carrasco. 'She was rushed to the hospital' and was in intensive care with 'life-threatening injuries,' wrote the friend, Leslie Hernandez. Hernandez told The Times on Monday that Carrasco was in critical condition in the intensive care unit but was stable. Carrasco's friends told KCAL-TV that she suffered severe skull injuries as well as a cracked rib, punctured lung and broken leg. After police issued a plea to the community for tips to identify and locate the suspect, officers were able to find the SUV's license plate number. Detectives were then able to identify the suspect, police said, and made an arrest in Riverside. Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez expressed his thanks for the tips that people sent to police.'We're grateful for the information they provided,' the chief said in a statement. Anyone else who has information on the hit-and-run is asked to contact Riverside Police Det. Mike Smith at MikeSmith@ or (951) 353-7103, or Det. Nic Cantino at NCantino@ or (951) 353-7104. Times staff writer Ruben Vives contributed to this report.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Man arrested for fleeing from scene after crashing into Riverside protester
Police have arrested the driver who allegedly crashed into a woman during a protest in downtown Riverside over the weekend. The woman, 21-year-old Alexa Carrasco, was one of many who were marching along University Avenue between Main and Orange streets when a black SUV drove into the crowd and hit her, according to a news release from the Riverside Police Department. "The SUV then fled the scene," police said. Carrasco was treated at the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital where she remains in critical but stable condition. Friends tell CBS News Los Angeles that she suffered multiple broken bones, including her skull, and a punctured lung. While investigating the incident, detectives were able to recover the suspect's license plate number and eventually identified the driver, 58-year-old Russell Prentice, who was arrested on Monday in the 4700 block of Jackson Street, according to RPD's release. Prentice was booked for assault with a deadly weapon and hit and run causing injury, police said. Additionally, detectives also arrested 39-year-old Riverside woman Candase Wenzel for accessory after the fact and destruction of evidence "for her role in taking the suspect vehicle to Phelan, intentionally destroying and concealing evidence," according to police. 58-year-old Russell Prentice of Riverside was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon and hit and run causing injury. Detectives also arrested 39-year-old Candase Wenzel of Riverside for accessory after the fact and destruction of evidence for her role in taking the suspect vehicle to Phelan, intentionally destroying and concealing evidence. Friends of Carrasco say that she was peacefully protesting with relatives over the weekend when the suspect began to provoke people in the crowd. Video from the scene shows protesters approaching the vehicle, and while most stood outside of the driver's door, some others bumped into the left taillight and used an object to smash it. The suspect then turned the car around quickly and drove into the crowd where he struck Carrasco. Anyone who knows more about the incident is urged to contact detectives at (951) 353-7103 or (951) 353-7104.
