Police and the FBI are currently investigating an incident where a Tesla charging station was intentionally set on fire in Lacey, Washington, early Tuesday morning.
According to a news release from the FBI, an individual ignited the fire at the Tesla supercharger station around 1:30 a.m. local time, resulting in “substantial damage” to both the charging equipment and the surrounding area.
The Lacey Police Department reported that they were first alerted to the incident early Tuesday when officers were dispatched to investigate a report of “malicious mischief” following multiple calls about a loud noise in the vicinity. Detectives from the department are now collaborating with federal partners to conduct a thorough investigation.
Ad Feedback Under Washington state law, malicious mischief can be classified as a felony offense depending on the total monetary value of the damage caused.
On Friday, the FBI released photographs of an individual they have identified as the suspect in the arson. The person in the photos is seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a face covering, and carrying a white bag. The FBI is urging the public to contact law enforcement if they recognize the suspect and to review any doorbell or security camera footage that may have captured the individual.
Related article Police arrest man suspected of setting fire to Tesla vehicles at Las Vegas service facility In recent months, Tesla vehicles, showrooms, and charging stations across the United States have been targets of vandalism. This comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk faces increasing public criticism related to his position as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency and his involvement in significant government staff and budget reductions.
Ad Feedback In response to a series of violent incidents targeting Tesla properties, the FBI established a task force in March to address these crimes.
Lacey is situated approximately 60 miles south of Seattle. The Seattle Police Department informed CNN on Tuesday that, as of March 30, 22 Tesla vehicles in Seattle had been vandalized this year.
Last month in Las Vegas, police reported that a suspect fired shots at Tesla vehicles at a repair facility and subsequently ignited two of them using Molotov cocktails.
In a statement posted on its @TeslaCharging X account, Tesla stated that its team is on-site with the Lacey Police Department and the FBI to review security camera footage of the incident. The company also indicated that it is working closely with Puget Sound Energy to restore the charging station to operational status as quickly as possible, according to the post on X.
