A man is facing a felony assault charge after allegedly driving his SUV onto a curb and into a crowd of demonstrators outside a Tesla showroom in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested Andrew Dutil, 44, of suburban West Palm Beach, on Saturday following the incident outside the Tesla dealership on Okeechobee Boulevard near Florida’s Turnpike. He has been charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is currently being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond. Circuit Judge Howard Coates ordered a pretrial detention hearing and appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent Dutil.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. during a scheduled three-hour protest organized by the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Palm Beach County. The gathering was the first of six Saturday demonstrations planned through April 26 in opposition to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s leadership role within the Trump administration, specifically his work overseeing deep cuts to the federal budget under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
According to the arrest report and eyewitness accounts, Dutil was seen driving a black Nissan Pathfinder SUV past the group of approximately 100 protesters. Witnesses say he yelled at the crowd before driving the vehicle onto the sidewalk where demonstrators were assembled, causing two women to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. The SUV came to a stop on the curb in front of the dealership, and Dutil exited the vehicle. According to those present, he claimed the vehicle’s brakes and electronics had failed and instructed protesters not to touch it.
Multiple protesters provided police with video evidence of the incident. Deputies instructed Dutil to move his vehicle away from the protest area, and he complied. Shortly before the arrest, Dutil reportedly entered the Tesla dealership, voiced his support for the company, and then left.
No injuries were reported, but the incident has added to the rising tension surrounding Musk’s political role and the broader national response. Demonstrations against Tesla have become more frequent across the country, with reports of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles and showrooms. On Friday, the day before the protest, President Trump referred to those involved in such acts as “sick terrorist thugs” and called for 20-year prison sentences for offenders.
The protest in West Palm Beach was peaceful aside from the SUV incident. Protesters displayed banners with messages such as “Lawless” and “Shame,” and several participants cited concern over Musk’s influence in government. Critics have raised alarms about the DOGE’s layoffs of federal employees and cuts to programs such as those run by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Musk has also drawn controversy for comments made at political events, including his public criticism of Social Security.
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