Suspected vandalism at Tesla dealerships has spanned at least a dozen states

Tesla vandalism hasn't run its course quite yet, despite Elon Musk's announcement that he'll be stepping back from DOGE starting next month.

The Mesa Police Department in Arizona told Business Insider it's working with federal partners to investigate a fire at a Tesla Service center Monday morning. Mesa Police later identified the suspect and arrested 35-year-old Ian Moses, "booking him into jail for arson of a structure and property," police said in a statement.

The report adds Arizona to a growing list of states that have seen vandalism incidents aimed at the automaker since Musk became involved with the Trump Administration.

Incidents of reported vandalism at Tesla locations date back to January and gained momentum through February and March when Tesla boycott movements sprang into action.

Here's a running list of states affected by attacks at Tesla locations. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Oregon

Police officers responded to a report of Molotov cocktails being thrown at a dealership in Salem on January 20. They returned to the location after bullets seemed to be fired into a building and a vehicle at the dealership.

Adam Matthew Lansky pleaded not guilty to charges related to throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla location in Salem. Lansky was charged with attempted arson and possession of Molotov cocktails, the Statesman Journal reported.

Lansky's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tigard Police wrote in a statement last month that officers were investigating two incidents that occurred in March involving gunfire. Police said on March 13, more than a dozen shots were fired at a Tesla dealership around 4:15 a.m. The gunfire caused "extensive damage to cars and showroom windows."

A similar incident occurred on the morning of March 6. Police said in a press release that at least seven shots were fired. The gunfire damaged at least three cars and also shattered windows. One bullet went through a building wall and into a computer monitor, the press release said.

Colorado

Police in Loveland, Colorado, said in a statement that an ignited incendiary device was thrown at a Tesla dealership on March 7, and it landed between two vehicles.

"Several people inside, who were cleaning the building, were put at risk; however, our responding officer quickly extinguished the fire, preventing further harm," The Loveland Police Department said in a statement. "The building and several vehicles were also damaged by rocks during this same time."

Police arrested Cooper Jo Frederick, a 24-year-old Fort Collins resident, on March 13 on felony charges related to explosives and arson. Frederick's attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to facing five state charges, Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the Department of Justice will seek a 20-year prison sentence for his attack on Tesla.

The statement said the arrest was made following "repeated criminal acts at the Loveland Tesla." Lucy Grace Nelson was also arrested in February on state and federal charges related to throwing Molotov cocktails at the location. Nelson pleaded not guilty to federal charges on March 11, according to court documents. The federal trial is set for August 4.

Massachusetts

Dedham Police Department said it was notified on March 11 that three Tesla vehicles were vandalized overnight at a Tesla service center, according to a statement posted on X.

Dedham Police Department said in a press release that the incident involved spray-painted graffiti on two Tesla Cybertrucks. The statement said both of the truck's tires were damaged, as well as the tires on a Tesla Model S.

Dedham Police said in the statement that the graffiti on the vehicles matched the spray paint also found on the building door on February 26.

Also last month, seven Tesla Superchargers caught on fire in Littleton, a small Massachusetts town. Littleton Police Deputy Chief Jeff Patterson told BI at the time that the charging stations were the only ones in town, and none were usable after the vandalism.

Tesla's charging account on X responded to a post about the incident and said the charging posts and wiring would be replaced in under 48 hours.

Washington

Washington has seen a number of incidents involving Tesla locations, including at dealerships, charging centers, and on the street. Last month, four Cybertrucks in a Seattle Tesla lot were damaged by fire, Seattle Police Department told BI at the time.

Six vehicles were spray-painted with swastikas and profane messages directed at Musk at a dealership in Lynwood, the local Police Department confirmed with BI. Police told BI the FBI has taken over the investigation, and it is ongoing.

FBI Seattle also said in a press release that someone started a fire at a Tesla Supercharger station in Lacey on April 8 at about 1:30 a.m. The fire resulted in significant damage to the station and the surrounding area, the FBI said in a press release.

Missouri

At around 11:16 p.m. on March 17, a Kansas City police officer observed smoke coming from a Cybertruck parked in the local Tesla Center parking lot, the DOJ said in a statement. The officer also observed a Molotov cocktail "near the burning Cybertruck," according to the statement.

The fire spread to a second Cybertruck in the lot, and the Kansas City Fire Department extinguished the fire, the statement said. The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485, the statement said. Two charging stations, each worth about $550, were also damaged by the fire, the statement said.

Kansas City resident Owen McIntire, 19, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of property used in interstate commerce. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

California

In early morning on March 17, deputies from the North Coastal Sheriff's Station were on patrol when they observed vandalism at the Tesla dealership on Encinitas Boulevard, the San Diego County sheriff's office said in a statement.

Law enforcement found multiple cars and windows of the building spray-painted with swastikas and "profanity," the statement said. The sheriff's office told BI that no suspects have been identified.

Idaho

On April 2, 16 Cybertrucks were vandalized overnight at a Tesla dealership, the Meridian Police Department said in a statement shared with BI. The unknown person also damaged the building with red spraypaint of the word "Nazi," the statement said. The police Department said the estimated damage is around $114,000.

The Meridian Police Department said in the statement that the FBI was notified, and the investigation is ongoing. Officials told BI that there is no update on the incident.

Texas

Austin Police Department told BI that "incendiary" devices were found at a Tesla dealership in Austin on March 24.

The Austin Police Department previously said that officers responded to a call about suspicious devices around 8:04 a.m. After arriving at the scene and locating the devices, the department's bomb squad was called to investigate further.

"The devices, which were determined to be incendiary, were taken into police custody without incident," the APD told BI.

New York

On April 22, New York Police Department officers responded to a demonstration around noon at Tesla's location on 860 Washington Street, police told BI.

Tesla's dealership in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan was spray painted with profane messages about DOGE and the words "We do not consent" written across the store's windows, AMNY reported.

The demonstration ended at about 12:30 p.m., and two individuals were taken into custody with multiple charges, including graffiti, the NYPD told BI.

Nevada

On March 18, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found five Teslas damaged and the word "resist" spray-painted across the storefront of a Tesla dealership. Police said the suspect was seen on camera shooting the vehicles and placing a Molotov cocktail inside them to start a fire.

The LVMPD arrested 36-year-old suspect Paul Hyon Kim on March 26 on suspicion of being involved in a Tesla vandalism incident on March 18. LVMPD Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said "a preliminary assessment" of Kim's social media "indicates some very loose but self-proclaimed ties" to some communist and pro-Palestine groups.

Kim's attorney told BI he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and plea hearing on April 15. His trial is set for June 17.

South Carolina

The Justice Department wrote in a statement that the North Charleston Police Department and Fire Department responded to arson reports at a Tesla charging station on March 7.

Witnesses reported that a man spray-painted "Long Live Ukraine" along with profane messages about Trump at a parking spot, the statement said. The suspect also threw five incendiary explosive devices at the Tesla chargers, the statement said.

Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, was identified as a suspect and arrested on March 13. He was arraigned in federal court a day later, the statement said. Clarke-Pounder entered a not-guilty plea on April 23, ABC 13 reported. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Have you been targeted by Tesla vandalism or harassment? We want to hear from you. Reach out to the reporter via email at [email protected] or secure messaging platform Signal at aalt.19.