An individual has been apprehended and accused of assault after driving his vehicle towards a group of demonstrators outside a Tesla dealership in Florida, narrowly missing them, according to authorities. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office stated that deputies responded to a planned protest at a dealership in West Palm Beach on Saturday, during which the suspect, Andrew Dutil, drove onto the curb and advanced slowly towards the protesters. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“The protesters had to swiftly move out of harm’s way to avoid being hit by the approaching vehicle,” as stated in a release by the sheriff’s office. Court records indicate that Dutil, currently detained at the Palm Beach County Jail, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to cause harm. It remains uncertain whether he has sought legal representation or when his court appearance is scheduled.
On his Facebook profile, Dutil seemed to endorse President Donald Trump, sharing a video parody featuring Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in a “The Dukes of Hazzard” style as “The Dukes of Maga.” Additionally, he posted various veteran-related content and is depicted in a military uniform in his profile picture. In 2022, Dutil also expressed criticism towards electric cars, stating in one post: “Screw electric vehicles. If you drive one, welcome to 1995 where the technology of your car is from. More coal equals more electricity needed for electric vehicles.”
According to The Palm Beach Post, Dutil was driving a black Nissan SUV and the crowd present numbered over 100 individuals. Mark Offerman, a member of the Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County, which organized the protest, reported, “He drove into a crowd of senior citizens. Everybody was able to move out, but two older women were really almost clipped. We immediately called the cops.”
Tesla has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident. The protest was part of a series of demonstrations held across the country recently, aimed at opposing the political stance and actions of Tesla founder Elon Musk at the Department of Government Efficiency. Since January, the DOGE has implemented cost reductions and laid off numerous federal employees.
While some Republicans have supported Musk’s drastic measures, politicians and supporters from various parties have cautioned about the repercussions of such rapid and stringent changes to the state. The Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County intends to continue protesting at the same dealership every Saturday in the near future.
In a message promoting the demonstrations on an activist platform, the organizers stated: “Elon Musk is undermining our democracy, using the wealth he amassed at Tesla to achieve it.” The message further emphasized the need to resist surrendering democracy to what they referred to as the Trump-Vance-Musk regime.
Although many protests are peaceful, there have been approximately 80 reported incidents of vandalism and damage inflicted on Tesla vehicles and charging stations, with at least 10 dealerships affected. The FBI has raised concerns that protesters
On Friday, the company’s stock ended at $248.71, after hitting a peak of $488.54 in December within the past year. Despite fluctuations in 2024, the current price remains elevated. Musk recently addressed Tesla employees during an all-hands meeting, expressing optimism for the future and encouraging them to hold onto their shares.
