Latest news with #MeridianPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lipstick vandalism? The latest Boise-area attack on a Tesla involved makeup
A 2024 Tesla Cybertruck was given an extreme makeover about 1:50 p.m. Wednesday in the Boise area, after a vandal smeared lipstick across the truck's stainless steel surface. The suspect, who was seen arriving in a red sedan, is suspected of causing an estimated $500 worth of damage to the vehicle, according to a news release from the Meridian Police Department. Police reported that they had identified a suspect by Friday afternoon. The lipstick was used to draw on the side of the Tesla Cybertruck, but what was drawn and the shade of lipstick were not disclosed in the news release. This crime comes amid a long string of Tesla-related vandalisms, one of which occurred in April and involved $100,000 in damages after an individual vandalized vehicles and property at the Tesla dealership in Meridian. The FBI was contacted during that incident. In a survey of more than 500 Tesla owners, conducted by Guardian Service, an online insurer, it was determined that nearly half reported instances of intentional damage to their vehicle. Moreover, as tensions continue to rise between those who own Tesla cars and those who oppose Elon Musk, nearly three-fourths of Tesla owners who responded feel as though they are more likely to be victims of targeted vehicle-related vandalism than those who don't drive Teslas.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Meridian police investigating after Tesla dealership vandalized. FBI notified
Someone vandalized vehicles and property at the Tesla dealership in Meridian to the tune of over $100,000, and police are asking for help identifying the suspect. The Meridian Police Department said in a news release Thursday that it's investigating the incident after the unknown suspect vandalized 16 Tesla Cybertrucks and spray-painted the word 'Nazi' on the exterior of the dealership, located at 2554 W. Franklin Road in Meridian. Police said they also 'defaced the sides' of several vehicles, and an image of one of the Cybertrucks showed a squiggly line of red spray paint down the side of the vehicle, which costs upwards of $70,000. The incident occurred sometime in a roughly 12-hour window between 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday, according to the release. The estimated damage is roughly $114,000. This comes just days after officers arrested a 70-year-old man for allegedly hitting another man with his car outside the dealership at a protest against Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. Counterprotesters led by the far-right Idaho Liberty Dogs showed up to oppose the rally against Musk. It also follows a national trend of attacks on the billionaire's electric-car company, part of opposition to his leadership role with President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which has laid off federal workers throughout the United States and caused much upset. In Idaho, both labor and funding cuts have affected agencies throughout the state, including the Department of Health and Welfare, the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Sawtooth National Forest. This incident in Meridian also sparked the notification of the FBI. It's unclear why the FBI would be notified; the Meridian Police Department didn't immediately respond to an email or phone call seeking comment. It could be related to an FBI task force that was created last month to 'crack down on violent Tesla attacks,' CNN reported. Musk is not an elected government official. 'This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, which is also owned by Musk. The Meridian Police Department is urging anyone with information to 'come forward,' according to the release, and asked for anyone with details to contact Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho man hits pro-Tesla demonstrator with car after he exited his truck that had Trump flags: police
A 70-year-old Idaho man was arrested for allegedly striking a pro-Tesla demonstrator with his car just after the victim exited a truck adorned with "pro-Trump flags," police say. Christopher Talbot of Meridian is now facing an aggravated battery charge following the incident Saturday outside of Boise. "At the time of the incident, a protest was taking place at [a] Tesla dealership, with approximately 30 protesters and an estimated 200 counter-protesters in attendance. The victim was identified as a counter-protester at the event," the Meridian Police Department said in a statement. "The preliminary investigation determined that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car. Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot stuck him with his car," police added. Feds On Alert For Tesla 'Global Day Of Action' After Nationwide Violence Leads To Arrests Investigators said the victim managed to drive himself to a local hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Read On The Fox News App Talbot reportedly was arrested after the victim provided police with his license plate, which led officers to Talbot's home in Meridian. "The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence," it said. Tesla Hypocrisy: Democrats Continue Investing In Elon Musk Company Despite Painting Him As A Villain Demonstrators around the U.S. held protests at Tesla dealerships on Saturday in what was billed as a "Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action." From Oregon to Massachusetts, Tesla cars and facilities have been vandalized in at least 10 locations this year. What began as protests against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have escalated into violent incidents against the Trump ally's company, including shots fired at a building, destroyed dealership windows and charging stations set on fire. Fox News' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. Original article source: Idaho man hits pro-Tesla demonstrator with car after he exited his truck that had Trump flags: police
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Fox News
Idaho man hits pro-Tesla demonstrator with car after he exited his truck that had Trump flags: police
A 70-year-old Idaho man was arrested for allegedly striking a pro-Tesla demonstrator with his car just after the victim exited a truck adorned with "pro-Trump flags," police say. Christopher Talbot of Meridian is now facing an aggravated battery charge following the incident Saturday outside of Boise. "At the time of the incident, a protest was taking place at [a] Tesla dealership, with approximately 30 protesters and an estimated 200 counter-protesters in attendance. The victim was identified as a counter-protester at the event," the Meridian Police Department said in a statement. "The preliminary investigation determined that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car. Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot stuck him with his car," police added. Investigators said the victim managed to drive himself to a local hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Talbot reportedly was arrested after the victim provided police with his license plate, which led officers to Talbot's home in Meridian. "The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence," it said. Demonstrators around the U.S. held protests at Tesla dealerships on Saturday in what was billed as a "Tesla Takedown Global Day of Action." From Oregon to Massachusetts, Tesla cars and facilities have been vandalized in at least 10 locations this year. What began as protests against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have escalated into violent incidents against the Trump ally's company, including shots fired at a building, destroyed dealership windows and charging stations set on fire.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Elon Musk protester charged, accused of hitting pro-Musk counterprotester with car
Meridian police arrested an anti-Tesla protester for allegedly hitting a counterprotester with a vehicle on Saturday. A preliminary law enforcement investigation found that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot, of Meridian, 'made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car' at about 1 p.m., the Meridian Police Department said in a news release. The two men were both attending a protest at the Tesla dealership at 2554 W. Franklin Road in Meridian. Police said about 30 people attended to protest Tesla CEO Elon Musk, but were outnumbered by about 200 counterprotesters. 'Reports indicate the victim had been driving a truck with pro-Trump flags and had just parked and exited his vehicle when Talbot struck him with his car,' police said. 'The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released for non-life-threatening injuries.' Officers arrested Talbot at his home after the victim provided police with Talbot's license plate number, according to the release. Talbot was booked on a felony charge for aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon or instrument. The event was one of many 'Tesla Takedown' protests organized by groups Troublemakers and The Disruption Project as part of a 'global day of action' against Elon Musk, according to the event's web page on Action Network. Action Network describes itself on its website as an 'open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes.' The billionaire businessman, who has been embroiled in numerous controversies over the years, has received increased criticism for his role as head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE has spearheaded mass layoffs and funding cuts at federal departments across the country, including in Idaho. 'Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and he's using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it,' the event page said. 'We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musk's illegal coup.' The far-right group Idaho Liberty Dogs posted about the event on its Facebook page, saying that 'patriots from across Idaho' planned to gather 'peacefully in front of the Tesla dealership in Meridian to stand against any vandalism/destruction.' Police reported no vandalism at the Meridian event. The Tesla Takedown page said its protests are 'peaceful' and 'oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property.' 'The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyone's right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence,' the department said in its news release. Police asked anyone with information that may help with their investigation to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.
