Youth Charged in Threats to Run Down Marchers

A 16-year-old Beverly Hills youth was charged Thursday with five felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and reckless driving for allegedly driving his father’s Rolls-Royce in a threatening manner toward a group of pro-war demonstrators in Westwood.

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, said the incident took place early Wednesday morning near the Federal Building, where there have been many demonstrations for and against the Persian Gulf War.

The youth, described as an Iranian citizen but not identified because of his age, will be arraigned today in Inglewood. Gibbons said he is being kept in custody because his father is in Africa and his mother in Iran. Apparently there is no one to whom he can be released.

Gibbons and Deputy Dist. Atty. John Luder said the incident began when the youth walked by a group of pro-war demonstrators and began exchanging jeers and taunts with them. He finally left, allegedly saying, “I’ll be back with my friends and we’ll finish this.”

Ten minutes later, according to the arresting officers’ report, the youth returned in the Rolls-Royce, again taunted the demonstrators, then veered his automobile toward them. One demonstrator who was entering a Veteran Avenue crosswalk at the time, identified as Michael Carson, 27, of Reseda, jumped back on the sidewalk to avoid being hit.

Again, the report stated, the youth turned the car toward other demonstrators and drove in their direction. Again, they jumped back. The youth allegedly stopped the car with one wheel over the curb, and the demonstrators yelled to sheriff’s deputies: “Get that guy, he just tried to kill us!”

The officers, who had heard the screeching of tires but did not see the incident, took the youth into custody.

Prosecutor Luder said there was no evidence that the youth, who had a California driver’s license, had been drinking or was under the influence of a prohibited substance.

It was the second time in the last three days that Reiner’s office had filed against someone in connection with emotional acts spilling over from the Persian Gulf War.