Overview
- Calor Madanescht, 48, was arrested and booked on suspicion of misdemeanor reckless driving after his U-Haul moved through protesters near the Wilshire Federal Building.
- Videos show the truck navigating a packed Veteran Avenue as demonstrators surrounded it, with one person stomping the windshield and others jabbing flagpoles through a window; two people were reported injured.
- Madanescht says he intended to park and join the rally, claims an LAPD officer waved him onto the street, and displayed stitches and bruises he attributes to an assault.
- The truck’s banner reading “No Shah. No Regime. USA: Don’t Repeat 1953. No Mullah” drew sharp reactions, with a UCLA professor and a witness arguing the messaging and vehicle presence inflamed the crowd.
- The case remains under LAPD review, and Madanescht says he may fight the reckless-driving charge.