The man who drove a U-Haul truck through a protest against the Iranian regime in Westwood may be facing a possible felony charge as the Los Angeles County district attorney took over the case, the district attorney’s office exclusively told NBC4 Investigates Friday.
Calor Madaneschtalor was arrested and booked for reckless driving, a misdemeanor, earlier this month after his rental truck entered the protest area near the Federal Building in Westwood.
But the district attorney’s office said it is now reviewing the case after the city attorney’s office decided to pass it.
The case being transferred over to the district attorney’s office means there could be an upgrade to Madaneschtalor’s charge. The DA’s office typically prosecutes felony crimes whereas the city attorney’s office handles misdemeanor crimes and municipal code violations.
Madaneschtalor told NBC Los Angeles that when he drove his truck into the crowd, his initial plan was to park his truck and get out of the car to join the protesters in solidarity with the people of Iran.
“As I parked, the pro-Shah group attacked me,” Madaneschtalor said. “(They) violently started hitting me. Broken windows, shattered inside. Coming inside, punching me.”
The large box truck, which Madaneschtalor was driving, had messages on the sides of its cargo area. And it continued down the street as demonstrators scrambled out of the way.
Madaneschtalor, who insisted that he had a peaceful message on the truck, said he had to drive away to save his life.
Some protesters had called for a terrorism charge against Madaneschtalor.
