A Florida man, Andrew Dutil, 44, was arrested after allegedly driving his vehicle onto a curb toward a group of protesters outside a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County, authorities said.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Dutil “jumped the curb onto the sidewalk at a slow rate of speed into a crowd of protesters” on Saturday. The black Nissan SUV he was driving nearly struck several pedestrians before they moved out of the way.
Eyewitness Accounts and Arrest
Protester Karen Holland told police that Dutil had earlier driven past the demonstration, yelling at the protesters before returning and allegedly driving onto the curb toward them. Holland said she feared for her life and believed she was going to be struck.
When officers arrived, they found Dutil’s vehicle parked on the curb with multiple protesters surrounding it. He was arrested without incident and taken to Palm Beach County Jail.
Charges and Ongoing Tesla Protests
Dutil has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, authorities said. The incident is part of a wave of protests, vandalism, and arson attacks targeting Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations following Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Over the weekend, protests also took place at Tesla dealerships in Boston, Colorado Springs, Memphis, and Milford, Connecticut.
FBI Investigating Attacks on Tesla Locations
The FBI has been investigating Tesla-related attacks in at least nine states since January, including arson, gunfire, and graffiti. Officials believe these incidents are being carried out by lone offenders using rudimentary tactics like incendiary devices and firearms.
In Fargo, North Dakota, fire crews responded to a suspicious fire near Tesla chargers early Friday morning, and in New York City, two individuals spray-painted a swastika on a Tesla Cybertruck.
Authorities are continuing to investigate these incidents, and Tesla has not yet commented on the attacks.
