A Florida man was arrested after driving his car into a group of protesters at a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County. The incident occurred on Saturday (March 22) during a protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Andrew Dutil drove his black Nissan SUV onto the curb at a slow speed, forcing protesters to move out of the way to avoid being hit. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Dutil, 44, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. He is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail. It remains unclear if he has legal representation or when his court appearance is scheduled. The protest was organized by the Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County, which has been vocal about its opposition to Musk's political actions and his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The protest in Palm Beach was part of a series of demonstrations nationwide against Musk and Tesla. Recently, Tesla dealerships and vehicles have been targets of vandalism, arson, and other attacks. The FBI has reported incidents in at least nine states, including arson, gunfire, and graffiti. Despite these actions, there is no evidence of coordinated attacks.
Dutil's social media history shows support for President Trump and criticism of electric vehicles. He had previously shared content mocking electric cars and expressing disdain for them. The protests against Tesla are expected to continue, with the Democratic Progressive Caucus planning more demonstrations at the West Palm Beach dealership every Saturday.