Florida Man Charged After Driving SUV Toward Protesters Outside Tesla Dealership

A protest outside a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County, Florida nearly turned dangerous Saturday when a man allegedly drove his SUV onto the sidewalk, coming within feet of striking several demonstrators.

Authorities have charged 44-year-old Andrew Dutil, who is accused of deliberately jumping the curb in front of the dealership, narrowly missing protesters who were voicing opposition to Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk.

Deputies spoke with two women who said they were standing on the sidewalk when the SUV suddenly veered toward them. One witness told investigators that Dutille had driven by earlier in the day yelling at the group. A Tesla employee also confirmed that Andrew Dutil had entered the dealership before the incident, stating that he "stands with Tesla" before leaving.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Andrew Dutil is now facing criminal charges. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges or whether the incident is being investigated as politically motivated.

The demonstration was one of several held recently as public scrutiny of Elon Musk and Tesla continues to grow, especially in light of Musk's involvement in government efficiency efforts under the Trump administration.

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