Sometimes people protest about certain things they are unhappy about. In many cases, these protests are peaceful until someone decides to start trouble.
This is what happened in Florida on March 21. A man was charged with assault after he drove his car toward a crowd of people protesting outside a Tesla dealership in West Palm Beach. The suspect drove onto the curb toward the protesters. Fortunately, they were able to move out of the way in time to avoid getting hit. There were no injuries.
The man is currently held in the Palm Beach County Jail. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. On his Facebook account, the man has posted and shared content supporting President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The man wears a military uniform in his profile picture and shares a lot of veteran-related content as well.
Several years ago, the man also shared posts criticizing electric cars. He was driving a Nissan SUV at the time of the assault.
There were more than 100 protesters. The man drove into a crowd of senior citizens. While everyone was able to move, two older women were almost clipped. Mark Offerman, of the Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County, organized the protest and called police.
The protest was one of several across the country in recent weeks. The protests were organized in response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s actions at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Since January, DOGE has fired thousands of federal workers.
The assault did not dampen anyone’s spirits. The Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County plans to protest at the same Tesla dealership every Saturday for the foreseeable future. The goal of the protests is to send a message to Americans that they should not surrender to the Trump-Vance-Musk regime.
Some protests against Musk and Tesla have caused property damage. There have been more than 80 cases of vandalism and damage against Tesla vehicles and charging stations. At least 10 dealerships have been affected.
Protesters have also been caught targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships across the country with arson, gunfire, and vandalism. The protests are causing consequences for Tesla’s stock. The stock recently price closed at $248.71 after reaching a 52-week high of $488.54 in December.
Assault in Florida
In Florida, assault is legally defined as an intentional and unlawful threat to harm someone, combined with an apparent ability to do so, creating fear in the victim. However, many people are confused about what constitutes assault. Assault in Florida does not require physical contact; a threat alone can be enough.
If actual physical contact occurs, it becomes battery instead of assault. If a weapon is involved, the charge becomes aggravated assault, which is a felony. Also, context matters; whether the victim truly felt in immediate danger is a big factor in determining if an assault charge applies.
Here are some examples of assault:
- Verbal threats with intent. Suppose two people are arguing, and one of them clenches their fist and steps toward the other while shouting, “I’m going to punch you in the face!” Even if they don’t actually hit the other person, the key factors of assault are present: a threat of harm (verbal or physical), an apparent ability to carry out the threat (raised fist and aggressive posture), and the victim’s fear of imminent harm (they believe they might be punched).
- Brandishing a weapon. Imagine someone pulls out a knife, points it at another person, and says, “I’m going to stab you!” Even if they don’t make physical contact, this could be considered aggravated assault since it involves a deadly weapon. The law doesn’t require the weapon to actually be used; just brandishing it in a threatening manner is enough to be considered assault.
- Threatening a bank teller. A customer in a bank becomes angry and shouts at the teller, “Give me all the money, or I’ll hurt you!” Even if the customer never makes a move to actually harm the teller, this could be considered assault, especially if the teller reasonably believes they might be harmed. If the threat includes a weapon, the charge could be aggravated assault or armed robbery.
- Domestic disputes. A couple is arguing, and one person raises their hand as if to strike the other while yelling, “I swear, I’ll hit you!” If the other person believes they’re about to be struck, it qualifies as assault, even if no physical contact occurs. If a person follows through with the threat and actually hits their partner, it escalates to domestic battery, which carries more severe penalties.
Contact Us Today
Assault with a vehicle is a serious issue. A person who is run over by a car or truck can suffer serious injuries or death, even at low speeds.
If you have been assaulted by someone, get the help you need from the Florida lawyers at Brill & Rinaldi, The Law Firm. You need experienced, dedicated attorneys on your side, helping you obtain the justice you deserve. We will examine the details of your case and help you determine how best to move forward. Schedule a consultation today by calling (954) 876-4344 or filling out the online form. We have offices in Weston, Coral Gables, and Daytona Beach.