The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a series of anti-Tesla vandalism incidents across the District as hate crimes.
D.C. police asked for help identifying a pair of suspects behind the vandalism, which they called “political hate speech.”
Teslas have become a target of political anger because of Tesla founder Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration.
Both suspects, a White man and a White woman, are wanted in connection with the March 2 targeting of two Teslas in the 200 block of K Street NE and the 3600 block of 11th Street NW, respectively.
The male suspect is also accused of several other acts of anti-Tesla vandalism. He is alleged to have struck in the 600-700 blocks of F Street NE on March 8 and March 14, in the 800 block of F Street NE at 3:48 p.m. on both March 9 and March 10, and the 600 block of G Street NE on March 12.
Capitol Hill resident Gene Butler, who owns a Tesla that was tagged with graffiti, said he feels like he’s being “bullied.”
“The first time was [a] shock, and I thought it was a little amusing, but the second time I was very upset. The message said, ’I heart Elon.’ We thought, ’OK, somebody’s being funny.’ So, we wiped it off with Windex. The next day, another message appeared, with the same handwriting in the same color, that said, ’Instead of selling the car, you bought a bumper sticker,’” Mr. Butler, 35, told WDVM-TV.
Messages written on the Teslas include “Ask me about my support of Nazis” and “Go Doge I support Musk killing the dept of education” according to police reports.
The District’s anti-discrimination laws include political affiliation as a category of bias alongside race, sex and gender.
The acts are part of a wave of attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships, as well as less destructive protests, across the U.S. and Canada.
There have been nearly 100 reports of vandalism and arson to vehicles so far and at least 10 charging stations, dealerships or facilities attacked in recent weeks.
MPD is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for the damage to the Teslas.
The Arlington County Police Department told WJLA-TV that a swastika was keyed into the door of a Tesla on March 5 and again to another Tesla on Friday.
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Alexandria Police Department and Prince William County Police Department in Virginia, and the Prince George’s County Police Department and Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland have not yet received any reports of anti-Tesla vandalism.
