Idaho man arrested after striking Tesla counter-protester with car

An Idaho man was arrested after allegedly striking a counter-protester with his car during a protest at a Tesla dealership Saturday. About 30 people were in attendance at the anti-Tesla rally outside a dealership on Franklin Road in Meridian, which also drew a counter-protest of about 200 other people. The Meridian Police Department said in a press release that the suspect, a 70-year-old man, was charged with aggravated assault.

Christopher Talbot, 70, of Meridian, allegedly “made an obscene gesture” toward a 49-year-old man who arrived at the Idaho rally, and then struck him with his car, according to law enforcement. Officials identified the man who was struck as a counter-protester, saying he had non-life-threatening injuries and that he drove himself to a nearby hospital.  The Meridian Police said that “reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car. The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released (with) non-life-threatening injuries. The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone’s right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence.”

Per NBC News, police used the license plate from Talbot’s vehicle to find his home, where he was later arrested. Talbot was booked into Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, a felony, according to the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.

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