Loveland police found an incendiary device that someone used to start a fire at a Tesla dealership early Friday morning, the fifth case of arson and vandalism reported at the northern Colorado store this year.
Officers responded to the store at 1606 N. Lincoln Ave. early Friday morning and found a fire started by a device between two vehicles near the building, putting “several occupants” at risk, the Loveland Police Department said in a news release.
It also appeared someone damaged the building and several vehicles by throwing rocks, police officials said.
Investigators do not believe Friday’s arson is connected to a suspect in a previous case, Lucy Grace Nelson, 40, who is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and spray-painting “Nazi cars” on the building.
Nelson was released from federal custody on a personal recognizance bond, according to the department. Loveland Police Chief Tim Doran criticized the move in a statement Friday.
“This decision is not just troubling for our community but reflects a broader problem faced nationwide,” Doran said. “It’s incredibly challenging to keep our citizens safe from copycat behavior when there are no repercussions to lawlessness.”
Similar cases of arson and vandalism have been reported at Tesla stores across the country, apparently in response to co-founder Elon Musk’s new role as a senior adviser to President Donald Trump and at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency.
The arson is under investigation, and anyone with information can contact the department’s tip line at 970-962-2032 or Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.
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