According to the Mesa Police Department, a man has been taken into custody in connection with a suspected arson at a Mesa Tesla dealership earlier this week. On Monday, officers were summoned to the scene following reports of an explosion where they found a flaming Cybertruck. Mesa PD told reporters that “additional callers reported smoke and flames coming from an area near the building, which ultimately was found to be a brand-new Tesla Cybertruck.”
The Fire Department arrived soon after and found the fire was limited to the vehicle. “As crews began their attack on the vehicle fire, additional crews made entry to the building to check the interior for smoke and heat,” police said. “The fire was contained to the vehicle on the exterior of the building.”
The outlet also reported that the misspelled word “thief” was also spraypainted on the side of the building.
Mesa officials stated the fire is being investigated as possible arson. The Mesa PD announced later in the day that they had arrested a 35-year-old male suspect identified as Ian Moses who is facing charges of arson of a structure and property.
Detectives noted that during the course of their investigation, a suspicious van was observed parked nearby near the intersection of Southern and Rowan, not far from the dealership. Investigators noted a bicyclist, identified as Moses, approached the van and opened its door.
Surveillance footage from the dealership was able to capture an image of the suspected arsonist and police were able to match the image to Moses, police said.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is investigating alongside the Mesa Fire and Medical Department, Gilbert Fire and Rescue, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
In a speech on the House floor earlier this week, Arizona Republican Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ-01) blasted leftist activists and vandals who allegedly affixed a swastika to his wife’s Tesla.
Schweikert expressed exasperation speaking to the House saying, “It’s not, ‘Hey David, we’re concerned about Medicaid. Here are ideas for how you could deal with debt and deficits so we have the resources.’ No, because [instead], it’s this really high-brow intellectual conversation from our brothers and sisters on the other side: Stick Nazi things on people’s cars. This is what you’ve come down to? This is what’s going on?”
The congressman reflected that when his wife bought a Tesla a few years back, they were teased by fellow conservatives. Then, he excoriated the leftists resorting to “stick[ing] Nazi signs on people’s cars.”
“The wheels are coming off, and instead, the brain trust of some of these folks… okay, I accept that the tonal quality from some of the folks out of the White House isn’t warm and cuddly, but [is the answer really to] go around neighborhoods and offices and stick Nazi signs on people’s cars?“
The congressman, a well known critic of out-of-control government spending, explained, “Over the next 10 years, we’re going to spend $86 trillion. We’re talking about at best on the house budget resolution cutting $2 trillion over those 10 years. That’s 2.3%. Oh, god, dear heaven, you’re butchering government. 2.3%. You’re telling me if we didn’t grind through government, look at our programs, look at all the reports the GAO gives us of waste and fraud and programs that haven’t been authorized in decades, you couldn’t find 2.3%? But it’s easier to stick this sort of crap on my wife’s windshield than to do the intellectual work of saying, ‘I think we have more elegant ways to spend and make it better, faster, cheaper for the American people.’ No, we’d rather burn things down. Are we all proud of ourselves?”
As reported by the Fountain Hills Times, protesters marched on Schweikert’s Scottsdale District Office as recently as Sunday. Ten days prior, protesters delivered a petition to the Congressman’s office demanding he conduct a townhall meeting with 30 protesters holding signs outside of the building at Northsight Boulevard and Raintree Drive.
A man has been arrested in the viral assault of a Tesla driver near Flagstaff.
Police named the arrested individual as 33-year-old Robert Artherton of Flagstaff. According to a statement from the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD), Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in the “road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter.”
The FPD statement also stated that conflicting accounts existed as to what led up to the assault and how the incident played out, with witnesses reporting “erratic driving behavior” from both Artherton and the victim, a 61-year-old woman who maintained anonymity in her remarks to the media.
Video evidence showed Artherton drove his Chevrolet Cavalier in front of the Tesla along Route 66, preventing the female driver from continuing forward. Artherton then exited his vehicle in order to approach the driver’s side of the Tesla and reportedly began punching the driver repeatedly. FPD confirmed both drivers sustained minor injuries from the altercation.
“All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures,” stated FPD. “At the time of the investigation no additional details regarding the motives behind the incident were provided.”
The woman told AZ Family she felt she was attacked for her perceived political stance or, at the very minimum, the current perceived political statement of owning a Tesla.
“I didn’t buy my car for a political statement,” said the woman. “I bought my car because it is really fun to drive. My politics have nothing to do with that. I’m ashamed of our society and what they are doing.”
The incident occurred earlier this month. FPD did not confirm whether the assault was a case of apolitical road rage or due to the fact that the woman was driving a Tesla.
Many in the public sphere connected the assault with the ongoing vitriol and violence issued by those opposed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh condemned the incident and called for greater responses to the ongoing verbal and physical attacks.
“Unable to come to terms with their historic loss in November, & spurred on by the incendiary anti-Elon rhetoric of the leaders of their party, the radical left has resorted to violence,” said Hamadeh. “This needs to stop before more people are hurt.”
This 61-year-old woman was assaulted while driving Route 66 near Flagstaff, Arizona.
Her “crime?” Driving a Tesla.
Unable to come to terms with their historic loss in November, & spurred on by the incendiary anti-Elon rhetoric of the leaders of their party, the radical left has… pic.twitter.com/a6LBLa7Fkj
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) March 30, 2025
Congressman Eli Crane called the attack “shameful behavior.”
Last week, the FBI announced the creation of a dedicated task force to “crack down on violent Tesla attacks,” including fires set to Tesla vehicles and charging stations. The FBI categorized the attacks as “domestic terrorism.” The FBI is coordinating with the ATF to investigate criminal activity.
FBI Director Kash Patel promised a swift response from his agency.
“This is domestic terrorism,” said Patel. “Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi backed these characterizations earlier this month.
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