Man Crashes Into Tesla Protesters At Florida Dealership As Tensions Rise | Carscoops
No one sustained injuries, but the driver now faces a five-year felony charge.
A man drove into a crowd of individuals protesting outside a Tesla dealership in Florida.
While there were no injuries reported, the individual was taken into custody for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Nationwide protests occurred over the weekend as part of the Tesla Takedown movement.
Protesters were active over the weekend as the Tesla Takedown movement continues to build support. Unfortunately, one of these events nearly resulted in tragedy.
As reported by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Andrew Dutil drove past a protest in Florida and shouted at those involved. He later returned, allegedly steering his Nissan onto the sidewalk and into the crowd at a slow pace.
More: FBI Issues Warning on Increasing Attacks on Tesla Vehicles and Dealerships.
According to ABC News, police received reports of a vehicle nearly hitting several pedestrians. Upon arriving at the location, officials found the SUV "parked on the curb in front of the dealership with several people surrounding it."
Although no injuries occurred, Dutil was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent. The Moses and Rooth law firm indicates that this is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
The reasons behind Dutil’s decision to drive into the group of protesters are not immediately clear, but it is reasonable to assume it may be politically motivated. Palm Beach County is known for hosting President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and has a strong base of supporters. Nevertheless, Trump lost the county to Kamala Harris in the 2024 election by a narrow margin of 5,676 votes.
This incident seems to mark the first attack on Tesla protesters, although the automaker has faced multiple threats since Trump's election and Elon Musk's role as the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Previous reports have documented instances of shootings, arson, damaged vehicles, and vandalized property.
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Man Crashes Into Tesla Protesters At Florida Dealership As Tensions Rise | Carscoops
There were no injuries, but the driver is now confronted with a felony charge carrying a potential five-year sentence.