A man was arrested after an SUV drove into a crowd protesting Elon Musk.
According to the Palm Beach Post, 44-year-old Andrew Tutil, a retired U.S. Army captain and civil engineer, was placed in handcuffs on Saturday (March 23). He was charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent.
The incident reportedly happened outside of a Tesla dealership in West Palm Beach, Florida, where about 150 protestors had gathered to speak out against Musk’s role in the Trump administration and their efforts to shrink the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Witnesses reported that Tutil drove a black Nissan Pathfinder SUV slowly into the crowd, nearly hitting two elderly women, before parking on the sidewalk and claiming the car’s brakes and electronics had malfunctioned.
"He drove into a crowd of senior citizens," said Mark Offerman from the Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County, per the Palm Beach Post. "Everybody was able to move out, but two older women were really almost clipped. We immediately called the cops."
According to WPLG, Dutil reportedly exited the vehicle and walked into the Tesla dealership. An employee told law enforcement that the man told the workers there he “stands with Tesla” before walking out.
Offerman also said Tutil claimed to be a West Palm Beach Tesla employee.
Police arrested Tutil after reviewing evidence and questioning him and other witnesses.
The protest was part of a broader movement against Musk, whose critics argue that he has benefitted from government subsidies and is now undermining public programs and workers—including veterans, in his quest to downsize the U.S. government and shut down fraud and waste.
While most protests have been peaceful, there has been an increase in vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles, including a large-scale attack in Las Vegas.
According to the New York Times, Tesla has suffered financial losses over Musk’s political activities, his endorsement of Germany’s far-right “Alternative for Germany” party, and his controversial straight-arm salute similar to what was once used in Nazi Germany.
The Associated Press reports that European sales of Tesla’s slew of electric cars dropped 49% in the first two months of the year compared to 2024, even against the overall growth of EV sales.
On Monday, the FBI announced it would launch a task force to investigate the attacks targeting Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations, per CNBC.
“This is domestic terrorism,” wrote FBI director Kash Patel in a tweet. “Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”