Local and federal authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying the person who could be responsible for damaging a Tesla charging station in Lacey earlier this month.
Lacey Police Department Chief Robert Almada held a press conference at Lacey City Hall, Council Chambers, on Tuesday, April 15, to brief the public on the incident as well as present information about the case.
He was joined by FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Harrington of the Seattle Field Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the Seattle Field Office.
Almada said the incident occurred at around 1:34 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8, which is about the time the police department received a number of 911 calls with people reporting a “large noise or explosion” in the 600 block of Sleater Kinney Road SE.
“Officers arrived on scene and observed significant damage to the (Tesla) charging station,” said Almada, who was reading from prepared remarks.
He added that a preliminary investigation led officers to believe the incident was most likely a criminal act “and not an accident or malfunction.”
Almada said the department later contacted the ATF and FBI to request a joint criminal investigation into the incident. He added that both agencies responded without delay providing invaluable resources for the investigation.
Almada then gave way to Harrington, who covered multiple issues related to the incident, including the creation of a seeking information poster, which shows the man believed to have been involved in the incident.
“What we’re looking for is a white male between 5’ 10” and 6 foot 2, wearing a dark jacket and face covering and carrying a white bag; and someone with injuries, such as a concussion, burns or shrapnel cuts that could be caused by being near an explosion or intense heat,” Harrington said.
He added that the man walked with a slight limp to the right leg kicking out and his right hand sometimes held behind his back.
“The unique gait of this suspect is noticeable in the videos that we released on the web page associated with the poster,” Harrington said.
He said the FBI has also set up a digital tip line at FBI.GOV/LACEY-TESLA-ARSON where people with information about the incident can upload multimedia information, such as video footage from doorbells, security cameras and Tesla vehicles.
He said authorities are also looking for a 2016 to 2019 Tesla model X, gray to dark gray in color that was spotted at the charging station prior to and during the arson incident.
“This vehicle is not believed to be involved in the incident,” said Harrington, who added the driver may have useful information about the incident before wrapping up his remarks
Blais then detailed some of the steps taken during the course of the investigation, including a fire scene examination where evidence was collected and sent to an ATF forensic lab for analysis.
He also said the ATF has worked with other agencies recently to investigate other acts against Tesla in Washington and Oregon.
“While we hope there are no further attacks on Tesla vehicles or property, we stand by to support … any investigation if another one occurs,” Blais said.
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Boatyarddog
NOPE!
You won't get ****.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Quadlok
The police chief should be immediately terminated for letting those fascist bastards into our community. We need to respect the inverse of the golden rule, that being **** around and find out. Musk and his acolytes want to be Nazis, I say they deserve the full reward for their behavior.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Dogbody
If the gray model X was charging at the station it should not be difficult to ID the car exactly. In the meantime the arsonist/bomber scum should be hunted down as rapidly as possible.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
ViaLocal
Funny how quickly the response is, especially from FBI and ATF, over vandalism of a Tesla station, of all things. Elon Musk should stop attacking hard working people who pay for his subsidized, pocket-lining lifestyle. Notice how no one vandalized tesla stations before he started attacking public institutions? Yet he expects to benefit, cut off people who actually need support, and have all of his stuff be fine. Stupid.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
DudeInOlympia
I saw a slightly taller than average white male just yesterday at Safeway, the gas station, library, city hall, walking downtown next to the Pig Bar, Ralphs, and near the Seafood market. They should check there
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
MindyOrk
White, trashy, drug addicted homeless have been weaponized by the police department to harass innocent residents out of the community. Trying to silence those asserting their basic human right to exist. And constitutional right of free speech, free thought and free expression. While giving FAVORTISM to criminals.
The lacey police department and "FBI" need to remove these psychopathic homicidal satanic networks of criminals, gang banging innocent residents out of their own home. FBI protecting Tesla while allowing criminal syndicate terrorist, and genocidal TREASONOUS Police to weaponize GESTAPO on the innocent- is deplorable. Weaponizing white supremacy watch groups in pickup trucks against our community like KKK gestapo. Unleashing Paramilitary TORTURE OPERATIONS, to harass black people out of the community. Weaponizing drug addicted, homeless, WHITE SUPREMACY career criminals on innocent residents. Get your priorities straight or get another job.. you're FIRED, TREASONOUS Police chief.. YOU'RE FIRED white supremacy "FBI" harassing black conservative- constitutionalist. I hope your family isn't destroyed by these DEMONIC, SATANIC serial raping, serial killing, terrorist criminals- like so many black people harassed out of the community. Remove these psychopathic HOMICIDAL CRIMINALS, in collusion with your corrupt police department, you have allowed to run rampant. The police allowed these white supremacy criminals to have impunity and arrogant, brazen hatred toward those whom they target. Monopolizing the bus system, residental communities and the entire Fred Meyer, target area, with white trash, criminal, drug addicted homeless filth, the police allow... While harassing black people out of the community. THE POLICE CHIEF ALLOWS FEDERAL HATE CRIME HARASSMENT OF INNOCENT BLACK WOMEN, IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND COMMUNITY, WHILE GIVING IMMUNITY TO VIOLENT CRIMINAL SYNDICATES.
Fire the white supremacy enabler Police chief- He burned the tesla station, with his IMPUNITY.
Friday, April 18 Report this