The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a collection of anti-Tesla vandalism incidents throughout the District as hate crimes.
D.C. police requested for assist figuring out a pair of suspects behind the vandalism, which they referred to as “political hate speech.”
Teslas have grow to be a goal of political anger due to Tesla founder Elon Musk’s position within the Trump administration.
Each suspects, a White man and a White lady, are needed in reference to the March 2 focusing on of two Teslas within the 200 block of Ok Road NE and the 3600 block of eleventh Road NW, respectively.
The male suspect can also be accused of a number of different acts of anti-Tesla vandalism. He’s alleged to have struck within the 600-700 blocks of F Road NE on March 8 and March 14, within the 800 block of F Road NE at 3:48 p.m. on each March 9 and March 10, and the 600 block of G Road NE on March 12.
Capitol Hill resident Gene Butler, who owns a Tesla that was tagged with graffiti, mentioned he seems like he’s being “bullied.”
“The primary time was [a] shock, and I believed it was just a little amusing, however the second time I used to be very upset. The message mentioned, ’I coronary heart Elon.’ We thought, ’OK, someone’s being humorous.’ So, we wiped it off with Windex. The following day, one other message appeared, with the identical handwriting in the identical coloration, that mentioned, ’As an alternative of promoting the automotive, to procure a bumper sticker,’” Mr. Butler, 35, informed WDVM-TV.
The acts are a part of a wave of attacks on Tesla automobiles and dealerships, in addition to much less damaging protests, throughout the U.S. and Canada.
There have been almost 100 stories of vandalism and arson to automobiles thus far and at the least 10 charging stations, dealerships or amenities attacked in current weeks.
MPD is providing as much as $1,000 for data resulting in the arrest and indictment of these answerable for the harm to the Teslas.
The Arlington County Police Division informed WJLA-TV {that a} swastika was keyed into the door of a Tesla on March 5 and once more to a different Tesla on Friday.
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Workplace, Alexandria Police Division and Prince William County Police Division in Virginia, and the Prince George’s County Police Division and Montgomery County Police Division in Maryland haven’t but obtained any stories of anti-Tesla vandalism.
