Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Man charged with vandalizing Teslas in Peabody
The man threw yellow and red paint on 11 Telsas parked at the dealership.
Police have charged a man with 11 counts of vandalism and one count of disorderly conduct after he allegedly splashed red and yellow paint on several Teslas at a dealership in Peabody.
According to court documents, Gardy Pierre is being held on a $100 cash bond.
Police were called to the Tesla dealership at the Northshore Mall at around 9 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a person throwing paint on several Teslas parked outside.
According to a police report, the suspect, later identified as Pierre, was running away towards the nearby Cheesecake Factory. Another police officer intercepted Pierre in the parking lot and took him into custody.
Advertisement:
The police say Pierre had red and yellow paint on his shoes, sweatshirt and arms. Police found his backpack with one can of spray paint and one bottle of acrylic paint, according to officials.
A dealership worker also identified Pierre as the perpetrator, according to police.
While being questioned by police officers, Pierre allegedly asked, “Is this still considered domestic terrorism on Elon Musk’s cars?”
The police said they were unable to answer his question.
On March 20, the U.S. Attorney General, Pamela Bondi, announced charges against three people for the violent destruction of Tesla properties.
Advertisement:
“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said in a statement. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”
Pierre’s alleged actions are part of a national trend of people targeting Telsas, especially the public’s dislike of CEO Elon Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Earlier this month, a Weymouth man was charged for keying a Tesla in a Hingham parking lot, and other incidents have occurred in South Boston and Fenway.
Pierre has a pre-trial hearing set at Peabody District Court on May 20.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com