Brookline Police are looking for a man who’s accused of tagging Tesla vehicles with Elon Musk stickers, according to police who put out a video of the suspect.
The man who was riding around on his bike on Sunday afternoon and allegedly tagging Tesla vehicles in the Brookline Village area claimed he has the right to deface others’ property based on “free speech.”
“It’s my free speech,” the man who had a Palestinian flag on his bike told one of the victims who confronted him.
At least three victims reported that their Teslas were targeted.
“We’d like to speak with the suspect so we can educate him on the difference between ‘free speech,’ and vandalizing property belonging to others,” Brookline Police said in a statement.
Brookline Police are urging anyone with information about the vandalism incidents or the identity of the suspect to call Det. Ryan McCarthy at 617-730-2710 or rmccarthy@brooklinema.gov.
These vandalism incidents come as state fire investigators report that a Tesla charging station was reportedly intentionally set on fire early Monday.
The Littleton Fire Department and Littleton Police Department responded to the Tesla Supercharger on Constitution Avenue just after 1 a.m. following a report from a neighbor who saw the fire.
Upon arrival, firefighters saw seven chargers with heavy fire damage. After the Littleton Electric Light & Water Department cut power to the devices, they quickly extinguished the fire and notified the State Police Fire Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Based on evidence at the scene, fire investigators determined that the fire had been intentionally set. Their investigation remains open and active.
This incident comes amid anti-DOGE protests at Elon Musk’s Tesla stores, and after reports of vandalism against Tesla dealerships.
In Colorado, federal prosecutors charged a woman in connection with a string of vandalism against a Tesla dealership, which included Molotov cocktails being thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray painted on the building — along with a message that appeared directed at Musk.
President Trump and cost-costing chief Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, have been moving to slash the size of the federal government through large-scale layoffs, contract cancellations and other moves.
Demonstrators have been gathering outside Tesla stores to protest the automaker’s billionaire CEO, and his push to slash government spending.
Critics of Trump and Musk hope to discourage and stigmatize purchases of Tesla, the electric car company that is the world’s most valuable automaker. Liberal groups for weeks have organized anti-Tesla protests in hopes of galvanizing opposition to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and energizing Democrats still demoralized by Trump’s November victory.
Anyone with information on the Littleton fire – including anyone who made observations of people or vehicles in the area – is being asked to share it with the Arson Watch Reward Program Hotline at 1-800-682-9229.
The Arson Watch Reward Program is coordinated by the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association. It provides rewards of up to $5,000 for information that helps solve, detect, or prevent arson crimes. Tipsters can remain anonymous if they wish.
Herald wire services were used in this report.