Driver rams into COVID vaccine mandate protesters, California police say

A 64-year-old California man was arrested Saturday after he drove into a crowd of anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate protesters, injuring at least one person, authorities said.

William Aslaksen was arrested on suspicion of felony assault about 90 minutes after Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said he got into his car and drove his Jeep Wrangler into the crowd in Palmdale at about 3:30 p.m., The Los Angeles Times reported.

Aslaksen is accused of arguing with protesters before ramming into the group on the sidewalk. Authorities said one woman was injured but is in stable condition, NBC News reported.

Aslaksen is being held on $50,000 bail, according to inmate records. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning.

Palmdale is about 62 miles north of Los Angeles.

This story was originally published October 25, 2021 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Driver rams into COVID vaccine mandate protesters, California police say."