Hopkinton Police say man put trash barrel on Tesla sedan at park. How you can help
Police in Hopkinton say a Tesla sedan was vandalized on April 17 at a local park, the latest in a series of incidents involving the battery electric vehicles being targeted — in at least some cases possibly due to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's right-wing activism.
The Hopkinton incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the College Rock parking area off College Street, near the Holliston and Milford lines, Detective Sgt. Gregg DeBoer said Friday, April 18. The incident was caught on surveillance video.
Still photos of the incident released by police show a suspect carrying a trash barrel that he picked up in the lot. The photos do not show the car, and the man has not been identified.
'Basically, the guy put the trash can on the Tesla and caused some minor damage,' said DeBoer. 'It's criminal harassment.'
'I'm really anxious': Worcester Tesla owner claims harassment, targeted for his Cybertruck
DeBoer said he can't tell whether the incident is related to Musk's connection to President Donald Trump.
According to WCVB-TV, a man was arrested earlier this week after Hingham Police said he keyed a Cybertruck. Earlier this month, Peabody Police charged a man with pouring paint on several Teslas at a dealership, and there were multiple incidents at a Tesla sales and service location in Dedham.
In February, Dr. Kumait Jaroje, who owns Sculpting MD in Southborough and a Cybertruck, told the Telegram & Gazette that ever since Musk endorsed Trump, people would flip him their middle finger and yell at his wife and children. He also said someone put profane stickers on his Cybertruck and that he has lost customers due to him having the vehicle.
That same month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attacks on Tesla property "nothing short of domestic terrorism,' according to a statement.
In the Hopkinton incident, the man who owned the Tesla said he had owned it since 2016, DeBoer said.
'It's not any kind of political statement,' the detective said.
'These fires are harder to fight': Electric vehicles pose added challenge for firefighters
Police are asking the public to help identify the man they say vandalized the Tesla. He is described as being a white man, 5 feet 6 inches tall to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with dark hair, dark facial hair and a thin build. At the time of the incident, he was wearing heavy-rimmed eyeglasses and a blue or green jacket.
'We feel like he's from the area,' DeBoer said. 'The victim has used that area for walking previously and he believes he has seen the man before.'
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call DeBoer at 508-497-3401, Ext. 1279, or email him at gdeboer@hopkintonpd.org.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Hopkinton police say man put trash barrel on tesla, causing damage
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