Police are looking for the man they believe vandalized a Tesla sedan at the Walmart in Brookhaven.
Osvaldo Torres-Rodriguez, 63, had a warrant put out for his arrest Saturday after a video was posted to social media Thursday night by the vehicle’s owners showing a vandal using a pair of wire cutters to damage the hood and driver’s side of the car. Cameras inside the Tesla captured the video, which was also submitted to the Brookhaven Police Department.
Police confirmed Torres-Rodriguez is a native of Cuba and not a U.S. citizen. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact BPD at (601) 833-2424.
The crime in Brookhaven involving a Tesla comes as the electric vehicles have been targets of attacks nationally due to company owner Elon Musk’s role inside the White House under President Donald Trump. The FBI announced last week it had created a task force focused on the escalating number of vandalism reports at Tesla dealerships.
While it’s unclear if the Tesla vandalism in Brookhaven was politically motivated, Chief Kenneth Collins said his department has a zero-tolerance policy regarding damage to other people’s personal property.
“It does not matter what your political views are. You have no right messing with people’s personal property,” Collin said.
