Seattle Police arrested a woman on Saturday morning for felony vandalism after she was caught damaging a Tesla parked outside the East Precinct in Capitol Hill. According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), a 911 caller reported the incident just before 11 a.m., describing the suspect as a woman in her 60s wearing a gray jacket and carrying white bags. Witnesses assisted officers in locating her in front of the precinct, where she was taken into custody.
The black 2021 Tesla sustained significant damage, with SPD describing it as “felony level damage.” There were no indications that the woman’s actions were politically motivated. Earlier that morning, SPD had responded to a separate incident involving a man in crisis damaging cars on 15th Avenue East.
This arrest adds to a series of similar incidents in Seattle, where Tesla vehicles have been targeted in acts of vandalism. In March, a white Tesla sedan was found burned in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and multiple Cybertrucks were damaged or destroyed in a fire at a lot in the SODO district. These events are believed to be part of a broader wave of anti-Tesla sentiment in the city, fueled by protests against Elon Musk and his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has labeled the vandalism as domestic terrorism, and President Donald Trump has suggested that the perpetrators be sent to prison in El Salvador. However, law enforcement agencies have found no evidence of coordinated attacks.
SPD continues to investigate the motivations behind these incidents and urges anyone with information to come forward.
