Driver arrested after ramming crowd protesting Musk in Florida
Shocking scenes unfolded in Palm Beach, Florida. Reports indicate that a driver deliberately drove into a group of protesters who were opposing Elon Musk's stance. The man was arrested.
Andrew Dutil, 44, was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida after—according to witnesses—he drove his black Nissan SUV into a crowd of protesters in front of the Tesla showroom.
Last Saturday, the protesters demonstrated against the actions of Elon Musk, who—according to them—has become a key advisor to former President Donald Trump.
Media reports highlight that the police received numerous reports about the incident. According to the official statement, Dutil drove onto the sidewalk slowly, steering the vehicle straight towards the crowd of demonstrators.
44-year-old arrested
Officers found his car parked on the curb—surrounded by a group of protesters. During the intervention, the man offered no resistance. He was arrested and taken to jail.
Fortunately, none of the demonstrators was injured, although the situation could have ended tragically. ABC News reports that Dutil has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon (in this case: a car), although without intent to kill.
One of the protest participants, Karen Holland, told officers that she saw the same driver earlier—passing by the protesters and shouting insults. The atmosphere was tense from the morning.
Protests in front of Tesla showrooms are currently happening all over the world—mainly due to the increasingly controversial role of Elon Musk in U.S. politics. He is considered one of Donald Trump's most influential advisors, despite not holding any official position.
