Jan. 13 (UPI) — Police have arrested a 48-year-old man accused of being the driver of a box truck that was driven through a crowd protesting the Iranian government on Sunday in Los Angeles’ Westwood neighborhood.
Calor Madanescht was arrested Sunday and booked Monday on charges of reckless driving, a misdemeanor offense, according to jail records. His bail was set at $0.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon near the Federal Building at Veteran Avenue and Ohio Avenue where an anti-Iran regime protest was being held.
The Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement Monday that officers were monitoring the protest when the U-Haul truck approached the intersection. On the side of the box truck was signage that read, “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t repeat 1953. No Mullah,” which the LAPD said was in opposition to the views being expressed during the protest.
The protesters tore the signs from the truck and attacked Madanescht, who allegedly drove the vehicle toward a group of LAPD officers while members of the crowd jumped out of its way.
Officers cordoned off the truck, and they took Mandanescht into custody. The truck was searched and impounded by LAPD officers who discovered “nothing of significance” in the vehicle, authorities said.
Two people were injured in the incident, though neither accepted transport to the hospital, the Los Angeles Fire Department said following the incident. Officers have since contacted possible victims and none reported being struck by the truck.
Madanescht is to appear in court Feb. 2.
The protest was held amid mass demonstrations in Iran that began last month over the country’s deepening economic crisis.
The regime, led by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has responded with escalating violence, killing hundreds of people.
As of Monday, the Iranian regime has killed at least 646 people and made more than 10,700 arrests, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based Iran watchdog.
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