A pro-Donald Trump influencer was arrested on Saturday for using a Taser-like object on protestors at an anti-Tesla event in Berkeley, California.
Ricardo Ruiz, 33, was arrested at the scene after allegedly using the weapon to ward off protesters who he said had pulled his hair.
Newsweek contacted the Berkeley Police Department for more information on the arrest via email.
Why It Matters
Tesla CEO Elon Musk‘s increasing influence in the White House under Trump appears to have made his electric vehicle company a target for political backlash. This response is both financial and cultural, with vandalism and protests against the car company becoming a symbol for protests against Musk and Trump
What To Know
In an unverified video of the incident captured by a protestor, Ruiz can be seen cycling past the demonstration before stopping after two attendees appear to confront him. He then reaches into his jacket and thrusts his arm at the two protestors while holding a black object. A woman then grabs his hair and pulls him off his bike.
Police separate him from the protestors before removing him from the scene.
Berkeley Police Officer Steve Rego said that Ruiz could face charges of brandishing a weapon or assault, but only if the device had made physical contact with another person.
As he was taken into custody, Ruiz maintained that he had acted in self-defense, claiming a protester had pulled his hair before he took out the weapon, according to reports from Berkeleyside.
“I didn’t tase anyone,” Ruiz said. “I pulled it out to protect myself.”
According to eyewitness reports, no one was hit by the alleged weapon, but sparks flew from it on multiple instances.
Getty Images
In a video Ruiz posted last week to his YouTube account, which has over 2,000 subscribers, he can be seen riding a bike equipped with speakers playing pro-Trump music past the protest, which took place at the 4th Street Tesla dealership.
In the video, Ruiz has several hostile interactions with the protestors, with one telling him: “I’m in the mood to take that sh** out of your f****** hands.”
Later, Ruiz recorded a conversation between himself and a police officer, who told him the protestors were complaining about the loud music he was playing.
What People Are Saying
In a leaflet promoting the Tesla protests, event organizers said: “We are taking action at Tesla to protest Elon Musk and his illegal activities. Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines. Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.”
What Happens Next
Authorities have not confirmed if Ruiz will face any charges for his actions at the protest.
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