GRINNELL, IOWA – Police say they can’t prove it was protesters who smacked into a rental car associated with the Vivek Ramaswamy presidential campaign today in this small Iowa college town, but Vivek called them “bad actors.”
On October 5, 2023, at 1:02 PM, Grime11 Police were dispatched to the Saints Rest Coffee House, 917 Broad Street, on a report of a property damage accident. Upon arrival, officers contacted 22-year-old Celia Meagher of Grinnell, who stated she had just eaten lunch at Jay’s Deli, located in the back of Saints Rest Coffee House. She claims she got into her 2007 Honda Civic, blue in color, bearing Minnesota plates and began backing out of her parking spot to proceed northbound on Broad Street. While backing up, she accidentally made contact with a black 2023 Ford Expedition. Her Honda’s rear passenger side bumper impacted the driver side rear bumper of the Ford. The Ford was parked on the opposite side of the street, unoccupied at the time of the accident. The impact caused minor damage to both vehicles.
A report was taken and Meagher was released from the scene with a traffic summons for unsafe backing. The Ford was a rental car associated with the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign staff, as Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was having a campaign event at the Coffee House at the time of the accident.
Police say they released the above information “to clarify information circulating on social media concerning the details of this accident. It was reported on social media that two protestors intentionally rammed into the Ramaswamy’s vehicle and fled the scene. Our investigation has revealed no evidence to substantiate that information. Meagher stated she was not in the area to protest. She did not know who the vehicle she struck belonged to, she did not intentionally back into the vehicle, and she did not flee the scene of the accident.”
Anyone having any additional information related to this accident is asked to contact the Grinnell Police Department.
After the incident, the outspoken Vivek (pictured at top in the Iowa Capitol building), who is floundering in the polls, said, “Had a civil exchange with protestors today, right before two of them then got into their car & rammed it into ours. Those two should be held accountable, but the rest of the peaceful protestors shouldn’t be tarred by the behavior of two bad actors.”
Two protesters, aged 22 and 26, rammed their vehicle into @VivekGRamaswamy’s car as he visited Saints Rest Coffee House in Grinnell, Iowa on Thursday.
The 2024 presidential hopeful is not hurt and was not in the car at the time of the incident. pic.twitter.com/witPOe9uj1
— Katelyn Caralle (@Katelyn_Caralle) October 5, 2023
Nothing but an accident over blown.
Vivek isn’t important enough for “bad actors.’ Go home, twerp.
Look who is talking. Mason Cities Resident Sissy!