MERIDIAN, Idaho – A 70-year-old man has been charged with aggravated battery after allegedly hitting a counter-protester with his car during a demonstration outside a Tesla dealership, ABC News reported.
The incident occurred during a protest organized by an anti-Musk group as part of a nationwide series of “Tesla Takedown” rallies, according to the report. About 30 people attended the protest in Meridian, while roughly 200 counter-protesters showed up in response.
Police said the suspect made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old man before striking him with his vehicle, according to the report. The victim had arrived at the rally in a truck displaying pro-Trump flags and had just exited the vehicle when he was hit. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and drove himself to a hospital.
Using the suspect’s license plate, police located him at his residence and later arrested him, according to the report. He was booked into the Ada County Jail on a felony charge of aggravated battery.
The protest comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, who has taken a role in President Donald Trump’s second administration, according to the report. Tesla dealerships and vehicles have recently become targets of protests and vandalism across the country.
In a statement, Meridian police urged the public to respect First Amendment rights and refrain from violence during demonstrations.
