Iowa man, 45, 'who drove his car into a crowd of BLM protesters' told cops the victims needed 'an attitude adjustment'

An Iowa man who police say drove his car into a crowd of Black Livers Matter protesters is said to have told officers the victims needed 'an attitude adjustment'. 

Michael Stepanek, 45, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury, both felonies, Iowa City police said.

Footage shows as a car, believed to have been driven by Stepanek, ploughed into protesters at the march organised by the Iowa Freedom Riders in Iowa City on Friday. Stepanek is said to have turned off his car lights before driving into the crowd.  

No one was seriously hurt but one victim landed on the hood of the car. 

Police did not initially receive a report about the incident but it gained attention when video of the incident was posted to social media on Saturday. 

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Michael Stepanek, 45, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury, both felonies, Iowa City police said

A person who was struck later came forward to give a statement, leading to Stepanek's arrest, police said.

According to a criminal complaint, Stepanek's Toyota Camry was one of several stopped by the protest at a city intersection. 

He honked his horn and drove around the block before shutting off his car lights and speeding toward the crowd, KCRG reported.

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Footage shows as a car, believed to have been driven by Stepanek, ploughed into protesters at the march organised by the Iowa Freedom Riders on Friday

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Stepanek is said to have turned off his car lights before driving into the crowd. No one was seriously hurt but one victim lands on the hood of the car

Officers did not see the protesters being struck but observed Stepanek speeding away from the scene.

Iowa Freedom Riders organizer Raneem Hamad told The Press-Citizen: 'I saw it hit two people.'

Black Liberation Movement organizer Jaylen Cavil added: 'A person got lifted on to the hood of the car.' 

Stepanek told officers the protesters needed 'an attitude adjustment,' according to the criminal complaint.

Stepanek is being held at the Johnson County Jail.