Wave Wire Services
WESTWOOD — A man who was arrested after allegedly driving a U-Haul box truck into a crowd of protesters marching in Westwood in support of anti-government demonstrations in Iran was booked Jan. 12 on suspicion of reckless driving, a misdemeanor.
No one was struck by the U-Haul truck, which was driven into the crowd on Veteran Avenue, near the Federal Building, around 3:30 p.m. Jan. 11.
The driver, who was identified as 48-year-old Calor Madanescht, was booked after being interviewed by detectives from the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, police said.
“Patrol officers from the LAPD West Los Angeles Division were monitoring a protest in support of the ongoing protests in Iran, when a box truck traveled eastbound on Ohio Avenue toward Veteran Avenue,” according to an LAPD statement.
“Officers stopped the truck and directed the driver to turn around, as he was approaching a large crowd of protesters. On the side of the truck were written signs that opposed the views of the crowd. The demonstrators tore the signs off the truck and attacked the driver, who drove toward a group of LAPD officers. Individuals from the crowd jumped out of the truck’s path to avoid being struck. Officers formed a skirmish line between the truck and the crowd and took the driver into custody.”
The truck was searched and impounded, “with nothing significant being discovered,” according to the LAPD.
The department’s Major Crimes Division continues to investigate the case and will present its findings to the City Attorney’s Office for filing consideration, police said.
Madanescht, who was held by the LAPD overnight, was released Jan. 12, according to online jail records.
Two people were initially evaluated at the scene by firefighters and both declined treatment, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Detectives who contacted possible victims learned none reported being struck, police said.
The driver was injured in an “altercation with some of the other protesters,” LAPD Capt. Richard Gabaldon said.
Video showed protesters trying to pull him out of the vehicle. As officers took him from the U-Haul and into custody, the angry protesters continued to attack him.
A sign attached to the vehicle had a message reading: “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah,” according to reports from the scene.
The sign made references to Shah of Iran, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the 1953 coup that ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
FBI agents were “on scene working with LAPD to determine the motive of the driver,” Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, wrote on social media.
The Los Angeles Times estimated the crowd size at about 3,000 people.
Shortly before 5 p.m. Jan. 11, the LAFD reported the crowd appeared to be voluntarily dispersing.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Major Crimes Division Detective Shannon Curtis at 213-486-7220. Anonymous tips can be submitted through L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477) or at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
