The Brookhaven Police Department in the state of Mississippi is looking for Osvaldo Torres-Rodríguez, a 63-year-old Cuban and illegal immigrant, identified as responsible for causing significant damage to a Tesla Model 3 in the parking lot of a Walmart.
The incident occurred last Friday and was captured on video by security cameras.
“We are conducting this investigation as a serious crime investigation for vandalism,” reported the Brookhaven Police Department.
The video circulated by local media shows the individual approaching the Tesla with a tool in hand.
“He was seen approaching the Tesla with a pair of pliers in his right hand. The video shows him scratching the hood and the driver's side of the vehicle,” confirmed the police.
The head of the Brookhaven Police Department, Kenneth Collins, strongly condemned the attack.
"It doesn't matter what their political opinions are; they do not have the right to interfere with other people's private property. Felony charges will be filed against the individuals involved,” he specified.
The police also confirmed that the suspect has an active arrest warrant for a prior felony, further complicating his legal situation.
As of the morning of this Monday, Torres-Rodríguez had not been arrested, and authorities are continuing their investigations to locate him.
The authorities in Brookhaven are calling on the public to assist with any information that could help in the capture of Osvaldo Torres-Rodríguez, who remains at large and faces felony charges for both vandalism and his immigration status.
Another Cuban arrested for vandalism against a Tesla
This same weekend, Yamaris Marrero, a 45-year-old Cuban citizen residing in Hallandale Beach, was arrested in Miami after being accused of causing damage to a Tesla by sticking gum in the door handle mechanism.
In that case, the incident occurred on Saturday, March 22, around 12:45 PM in the parking lot of JCPenney at Aventura Mall and was captured by the vehicle's integrated cameras, according to a report by Local 10.
According to the police report, the damage to the Tesla amounts to $2,623, due to the impact on the electrical mechanism of the door handle.
Marrero, who according to her Facebook profile is originally from Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, was identified and detained on Thursday, March 27 in the afternoon after a security guard spotted her in the food court of the shopping center.
Initially, he was facing a felony charge for criminal damage with a hate crime enhancement; however, during the bail hearing on Friday, this enhancement was removed, reducing the charge from second to third degree.
The vandalism of Tesla cars is on the rise
These incidents occur in a tense context surrounding the company Tesla and its facilities in the United States.
Since entrepreneur Elon Musk took on the role of advisor on technology and innovation in President Donald Trump's administration, there have been multiple attacks on vehicles, charging stations, and dealerships of the brand in the United States and Canada.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has detected a growing pattern of sabotage targeting Tesla vehicles.
"Attacks on Teslas have been reported in at least nine states since January," the federal agency recently reported.
Trump also responded to the incidents with a message on his social media, warning sternly: "Those caught sabotaging Teslas will face a strong likelihood of going to prison for up to twenty years, including those who finance them. We are looking for them."
The growing political polarization in the United States has made Tesla a target for radicalized sectors, while some acts of sabotage are being investigated as possible hate crimes or ideologically motivated.
Sectors that disapprove of the far-right policies associated with Musk and his collaboration with the Trump administration have sparked criticism and calls for a boycott of Tesla.
Trump has publicly defended the director of the Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), an entity aimed at implementing structural reforms and reducing bureaucracy in the federal government, criticizing the boycotts against him and highlighting his contribution to the American automotive industry.
In a gesture of support, Trump showcased Tesla vehicles at the White House and encouraged citizens to purchase them.
These tensions have resulted in vandalistic acts against Tesla properties, including the use of molotov cocktails to set fire to vehicles and charging stations in various cities across the United States.
Political controversies have had a negative impact on Tesla. The company experienced a dramatic drop of 42.6% in its sales within the European Union during the first months of 2025.
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