San Jose police arrested a man Monday night for felony vandalism after he was seen on a Tesla security camera allegedly keying the vehicle in a Costco parking lot.
The footage, which went viral on social media, showed the suspect wearing a "USA" jacket as he scratched the car's passenger-side door before walking away.
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph confirmed the arrest in a statement on X, emphasizing that "no matter one's personal beliefs or frustrations, they do not justify illegal actions." The suspect's identity has not yet been released.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to the arrest with a brief post on X, sharing only an American flag emoji.
The incident comes amid growing anti-Musk sentiment, with protests and vandalism targeting Tesla owners and dealers increasing.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan speculated that the act may have been politically motivated due to Musk's role in President Donald Trump's second administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
"If this crime was politically motivated, our residents can't be held accountable for something Elon Musk is doing 3,000 miles away," Mahan stated.
Meanwhile, Tesla stocks have plummeted, with a key investor calling for Musk to step down as CEO, accusing the billionaire of doing damage to the business with his divisive public image.
Some Tesla owners have added bumper stickers distancing themselves from Musk, with messages like "Anti-Elon Tesla Club" and "I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy."
San Jose police have not released additional details on the suspect or potential charges.
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