A 43-year-old man was arrested Monday for allegedly keying a Tesla in downtown Seattle, facing felony charges after the vehicle’s built-in cameras captured the incident and his license plate.
The incident occurred August 9 when the victim reported someone keyed the driver’s side and hood of his Tesla parked in a garage near 7th Avenue and Pike Street. The damage totaled nearly $4,000.
Tesla’s onboard cameras recorded the suspect vandalizing the vehicle and later leaving the scene in his own car. The footage captured both the suspect’s face and license plate, allowing detectives to identify him and develop probable cause for arrest.
Seattle Police located and arrested the suspect Monday afternoon on second-degree malicious mischief charges. He was booked into King County Jail, with charges referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The victim’s insurance covered approximately half the damages, leaving $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, according to SPD.
The arrest demonstrates how Tesla’s multiple external cameras, originally designed for autonomous driving features, increasingly serve as evidence in criminal investigations. The vehicles record continuously when parked in “Sentry Mode,” capturing incidents around the car.
Second-degree malicious mischief is a Class C felony in Washington when damages exceed $750, carrying potential penalties including up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The eight-week gap between the incident and arrest is typical for property crime investigations where suspects must be identified through video evidence and vehicle registration records.
