Florida drug traffickers reportedly tortured rival by pouring hot sauce into parts of his body



Lured by the prospect of receiving payment for an outstanding debt, a drug trafficking rival of Mario Espino came to Espino's Florida residence in October 2023, federal officials said.

But no payment was made, officials said.

Agents found the victim in the back seat with a pillowcase over his head and zip ties and electrical cords around his wrists, officials said.

Instead, the rival — who also worked with Espino previously — was subjected to 18 hours of torture and physical abuse, officials said.

According to court documents, Espino plotted with Jacob James Guest and Joey Lawrence Eugene Young to kidnap the victim, officials said, adding that the trio bound, beat, and tortured him.

As part of the victim's torture, Espino and Young resorted to “pouring hot sauce in [his] eyes and anus,” Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Sullivan wrote in Espino’s sentencing memorandum, according to the New York Post.

Espino, Guest, and Young also demanded 10 kilograms of fentanyl as ransom from the trafficker’s cartel drug sources, officials said.

RELATED: Fentanyl from Canada is killing Americans — but Trudeau cares more about prosecuting the Freedom Convoy

Fentanyl seized. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The Post, citing court records, added that Espino had been frustrated over being cut out of the victim's drug business.

On October 11, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office rescued the victim from a vehicle that Espino, Guest, and Young abandoned when law enforcement approached, officials said.

Agents found the victim in the back seat with a pillowcase over his head and zip ties and electrical cords around his wrists, officials said.

Espino, Guest, and Young also left behind 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, 100 grams of fentanyl, a firearm, and more than $10,000 in cash, officials said.

The United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, on Thursday announced that U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Espino — now 25 years old — along with Guest and Young — now 24 and 25, respectively — to federal prison for drug trafficking, kidnapping, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of their drug trafficking crimes.

Espino received 22 years and 6 months behind bars while Guest got 20 years and Young got 25 years, officials said, adding that each of them previously pleaded guilty to the offenses.

RELATED: Savage drug lord tied to torture, murder of DEA agent dragged to US to face justice after Trump pressures Mexico over cartels

Brian A. Jackson/South Florida Sun Sentinel

In regard to what could happen next to the defendants, Amy H. Filjones — public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida — told Blaze News that the Sentencing Reform Act eliminated parole for federal crimes committed after November 1, 1987.

Tampa attorney Ron Frey added to Blaze News that "early release into a supervised release can be possible via various programs and through earned good time credit. However, this is all subject to eligibility and the specific characteristics of each particular defendant.”

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73 arrests, 3 stabbings, brawls, and a boardwalk shutdown in a Jersey Shore town over Memorial Day weekend: 'It wasn't great'



Brawls and stabbings led to a boardwalk shutdown in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, over Memorial Day weekend, officials said, adding that police arrested 73 people.

Seaside Heights police arrested 52 adults and 21 juveniles between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Memorial Day, NJ.com reported, adding that 100,000 visitors flocked to the beach enclave over the weekend. Seaside Heights is about 45 minutes south of Asbury Park and a little less that two hours east of Philadelphia.

The owner of Berkeley Candy on the Seaside Heights boardwalk told Blaze News that he was inside his store and "saw some fights," but that "it's always been this way" on Memorial Day weekend.

"It wasn't great," one Seaside Heights boardwalk store owner told Blaze News on Tuesday in regard to the violence and calamity that tends to transpire at this time every year.

The owner of Twisted Fish Beach Store added to Blaze News that despite the problems, "we stayed safe" and remained "in pretty good shape."

RELATED: Watch: Shocking, bleacher-clearing brawl between parents erupts in the middle of high school wrestling match

The same can't be said of three young adults who reportedly were stabbed in separate incidents within a block of the boardwalk, Seaside Heights Detective Steve Korman told NJ.com.

Police told News 12 New Jersey a 21-year-old was stabbed in the back at Webster Avenue around 8 p.m. Saturday; a 22-year-old was stabbed in the hip while in the area of Sherman Avenue and Ocean Terrace around 6:45 p.m. Sunday; and an 18-year-old was stabbed at Kearny Avenue and Ocean Terrace at midnight Monday.

What's more, the boardwalk was temporarily shut down after midnight Monday following the third stabbing, Korman told NJ.com. None of the stabbing victims cooperated with police, Korman also told NJ.com, adding that no arrests were made in connection with the stabbings.

The owner of Berkeley Candy on the Seaside Heights boardwalk told Blaze News that he was inside his store and "saw some fights," but that "it's always been this way" on Memorial Day weekend — and in pretty much "every town resort town" up and down the East Coast.

NJ.com said among the weekend's arrestees was a 21-year-old man who was charged with possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, resisting arrest, and obstruction after police answered a call about a reported fight.

RELATED: Video: Parents, students involved in several fights at high school graduation in New Jersey, one person hospitalized

Blaze News reported about a massive brawl that took place May 17 when 300 teens descended upon the Menlo Park Mall in Edison and ran amok — and even fought with cops. A TikTok influencer organized the headline-grabbing "meetup." Edison is about an hour and a half northwest of Seaside Heights.

In addition, News 12 New Jersey in a separate story reported that after as many as 500 juveniles showed up Saturday to a "TikTok pop-up party" at the carnival in Woodbridge, multiple fights broke out when fair officials stopped letting people in at 7 p.m. — and then the crowd moved to the Woodbridge Center mall. Authorities told News 12 New Jersey that officers from five nearby municipalities got on board to help get the crowd under control. Woodbridge is about 20 minutes northeast of Edison.

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Massive mall brawl: 300 teens descend upon shopping mall, run amok, fight — even with cops. TikTok influencer set 'meetup.'



A massive brawl went down at a New Jersey shopping mall Saturday night featuring 300 teenagers running amok, fighting each other — and even tangling with police, WABC-TV reported.

Turns out a TikTok influencer days before told his followers about the "meetup" at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, the station said — and wouldn't you know the kids just couldn't help themselves and followed the crowd?

'Parents need to be focused on their kids, making sure they're not causing this kind of rowdiness in other towns.'

Edison police said the chaos and violence ensued not long after the teens started filling up the mall around 8 p.m.

"They were having a brawl; they were pushing and shoving," Chief Thomas Bryan with the Edison Police Department told WABC. "When our officers arrived, they actually started fighting with our officers."

RELATED: Brawl erupts in Calif. mall, causing 'hysteria' after shoppers hear what they believe to be a gun

A 'Celebrate Police Appreciation Week' sign is displayed alongside an Edison police car — in the Menlo Park Mall.Image source: Edison Township Police

You can view a collection of cellphone clips here showing much of the action.

In addition, at the 46-second mark of the above video — and at the 1:15 mark of the YouTube video below — officers are seen holding what appear to be rifles. Blaze News on Wednesday morning spoke with Chief Bryan, who said police originally were called about an active shooter at the mall and that there were "gunshots fired." Therefore, Bryan told Blaze News, police had to come prepared for that, which is why officers are seen with rifles amid the mall brawl.

One officer was injured, WABC said, adding that the throng was so out of control that police from surrounding municipalities responded as well; cops needed about an hour and a half to break things up.

Police told News 12 New Jersey that six teens were arrested for disorderly persons charges as well as failure to disperse; one suspect was charged with assaulting a police officer.

All of the juveniles were eventually released to their parents, NJN said.

Edison Mayor Sam Joshi blasted those same parents during a Monday news conference; NJN said parents likely drove many of their teenage children to the mall for the meetup.

"What are the parents doing? Aren't the parents aware that they're traveling 45 minutes to cause a disturbance within Edison Township?" Joshi asked, according to WABC. "It makes no sense. Parents need to be focused on their kids, making sure they're not causing this kind of rowdiness in other towns."

Edison police also are looking into possible charges for the TikToker who posted the original “meetup” video telling his followers to go to the Menlo Park Mall, NJN reported.

Police told NJN there was no property damage.

RELATED: Brawl erupts after 200 'rowdy' teens gather at shopping mall carnival; teen jumps on cop's back, another elbows cop in head

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Crazy video: Unhinged driver hits teen, crashes through Dollar Tree wall — with teen still on hood. The end is even wilder.



Cellphone video caught the moment when a motorist hit a teenager in the parking lot of a South Carolina Dollar Tree store on Mother's Day, then plowed through the store wall — with the teen still on the hood of the car.

Miraculously, the victim quickly emerged from the rubble and walked away, apparently as if the impact was nothing. You can view the cellphone video here.

'Youth these days ... don't value life.'

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said a fight involving two adults and three juveniles began in the parking lot of the Dollar Tree on Sumter Highway in Bishopville, WIS-TV reported. Bishopville is a little less than an hour northeast of Columbia.

Authorities said a 17-year-old hit a 15-year-old with a vehicle before crashing into the store, the station noted, adding that the driver reportedly rolled the car away from the store and crashed into an occupied vehicle in the parking lot.

WIS said the 15-year-old hit by the car was not seriously hurt.

Deputies said 19-year-old Celvin Hickman and 24-year-old Shamirah Blyther were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the brawl, the station reported, adding that Hickman also was charged with malicious injury to property.

RELATED: Massive manhunt under way for suspect who allegedly rammed car into 2 children and 1 adult at church intentionally

Image source: Lee County (S.C.) Sheriff's Office

The three juveniles also were arrested, the sheriff’s office told WIS.

The 17-year-old accused of driving the car that crashed into the store was charged with attempted murder, disorderly conduct, and malicious injury to property, the station said, adding that authorities said the 17-year-old will be charged as an adult.

Another 15-year-old also was charged with disorderly conduct and released to guardians, WIS said.

Blaze News spoke with an employee of a business just down the street from where the calamity went down. The employee — who spoke to Blaze News on the condition of anonymity — said the harrowing incident has made people "look at Bishopville a little differently."

"I did have one guy who said he's afraid to come back down here," the employee told Blaze News, adding that a lot of people shop in the area, which police consistently patrol.

"It's crazy that it happened right there," the employee added to Blaze News.

Sheriff Daniel Simon in the aftermath told WIS that some "youth these days ... don't value life." Simon added to the station that the driver who hit the 15-year-old with the car "used the vehicle as a weapon. You might as well pull out a gun ... and pull the trigger."

WIS said the store is closed for now and that there's about $10,000 in damages.

RELATED: Parents released from jail after cops say 'large rat started eating' their 6-month-old girl, mom found child covered in blood

- YouTube youtu.be

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Parents released from jail after cops say 'large rat started eating' their 6-month-old girl, mom found child covered in blood



Two South Carolina parents have been released from jail after police said their twin infants were found with "severe" rat bites.

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said a "large rat started eating" their 6-month-old girl in their Belton home last week, and the mother found the infant covered in blood.

Officials said 'evidence shows her twin brother also has bite marks on his feet.'

A judge on Tuesday granted personal recognizance bonds to the 24-year-old parents, Akayla Bearden and Justin Bearden, WHNS-TV reported.

But the station said that even though they were released from jail, they're banned from having contact with their children unless ordered by the state's social services department.

What's the background?

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said the baby in question suffered "severe injuries" due to bites from a "field rat" and was recovering at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

Deputies responded to D and M Drive in Belton as soon as the mother called 911 after finding blood covering the bassinet and the infant early Friday morning, officials said. Belton is about 40 minutes south of Greenville.

RELATED: Indiana parents charged with child neglect after their baby nearly dies from rat bites, police say

Image source: Anderson County (S.C.) Sheriff's Office

The bite marks spanned across the baby’s arms, the back of the baby's head, as well as the baby's ears and face, officials said.

The Criminal Investigations Division began investigating and interviewed the parents, officials said. While the parents admitted that field rats had been an ongoing issue inside their single-wide home for the last several months, officials said the parents continued to allow their children to live in the home.

What's more, the injured baby is a twin, and officials said "evidence shows her twin brother also has bite marks on his feet."

Detectives charged the parents with two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, officials said, adding that all three of their children are now in the custody of the state's Department of Social Services.

RELATED: 'We've had rats the size of Crocs just running up and down the street': NYC holds first-ever Anti-Rat Day of Action in Harlem

Image source: Anderson County (S.C.) Sheriff's Office, composite

WBTV-TV said the parents were arrested Monday.

Authorities said the 6-month-old girl will remain in the hospital for several days as the case remains under investigation.

The parents are set to go back before a judge on July 31, WHNS said.

RELATED: NYC Mayor Eric Adams fined for rat infestation at his own property

Brian A. Jackson/South Florida Sun Sentinel

A WHNS video report about the case noted that if the parents plead guilty to the charges, they face up to 10 years behind bars.

You can view the video report here about the case.

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Florida teens allegedly kidnap Vegas man at gunpoint, ditch him in Arizona desert, steal $4 million in cryptocurrency heist



Three Florida teenagers are accused of kidnapping a Las Vegas man at gunpoint, driving him to a remote desert area in Arizona, and then stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, according to reports.

KLAS-TV reported that Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher — both 16 years old and from Pasco County in Florida — were charged last week with robbery, kidnapping, and extortion. A juvenile court judge ruled that Ashraf and Fletcher could be charged as adults. A unnamed third teenager reportedly avoided capture.

'Law enforcement said the three teens were previously involved in disturbances together at a high school in Florida.'

Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Daniel Westmeyer set bail at $4 million for each suspect.

At a Tuesday hearing, Ashraf’s attorney argued that his client should be placed under house arrest. Judge Noreen Demonte approved the request, ordering Ashraf’s release with electronic monitoring, according to court records.

What allegedly went down?

The alleged victim was hosting a cryptocurrency-related event at a business in downtown Las Vegas, according to police.

L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Ashraf, Fletcher, and the third unnamed teenager reportedly approached the alleged victim at his apartment complex after he parked his vehicle. The three suspects forced the man at gunpoint into the back seat of their vehicle, according to a police report.

"[The alleged victim] was told if he complied, he would live to see another day, and if he did not comply, they had his dad and would kill him,” court documents read. "[The alleged victim] had a towel placed over his head and was told by the suspects not to look at them."

The alleged victim claimed that he heard a fourth person talking to the kidnappers on the phone with the speaker on.

Police said the teenagers demanded that the alleged victim provide them with usernames and passwords for his financial accounts, which he reportedly furnished.

The teens are believed to have driven the alleged victim across the Nevada border to White Hills, Arizona — which is over 70 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

The alleged victim was kicked out of the kidnappers' car in a remote desert area.

Pgiam via iStock / Getty Images

According to court documents, the alleged victim had to walk approximately five miles to a gas station, where he phoned a friend to pick him up.

The three suspects are accused of stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens, according to prosecutors.

Vladimir Vladimirov via iStock / Getty Images

Investigators with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reportedly tracked down the kidnappers' vehicle and determined that it was driven from Florida to Nevada.

Ashraf and Fletcher were arrested. However, the third teenager reportedly avoided capture. During Fletcher's probable cause hearing Friday, a prosecutor said law enforcement believes the third suspect fled the United States.

Anything else?

Police said the three teens previously were involved in disturbances together at a Florida high school.

According to court documents, the teenagers once screamed at an assistant principal and "were reported as swearing in English and Arabic, and [Ashraf] was observed shoulder-checking a school resource officer."

The FBI allegedly assisted in the investigation.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June.

You can watch a local newscast about the cryptocurrency heist from KLAS-TV here.

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Blaze News original: When fed-up teachers fight back against students who cross the line and physically attack them



Quite a few Blaze News readers reacted with interest to a recent story of ours about a Georgia high school student who was caught on cellphone video punching a teacher in the face.

Sadly, that's not exactly a new phenomenon in our society any more, as more and more students appear emboldened not only to talk back to their teachers and verbally abuse them — but also to physically attack them.

'The sad part about it is that teachers are being treated like that every day. They're being assaulted, abused, and something needs to be said about it.'

Meanwhile, teachers have their hands tied. What can they do? Do the victimized teachers simply allow students to pummel them to pieces as they suffer busted-up faces, broken bones, and missed work time as well as ongoing mental and emotional trauma?

Or do they — literally — fight back?

That's what the teacher did in the recent Blaze News story noted above. As onlookers in the hallway in Martin Luther King Jr. High School let out an approving holler in unison after the student let the punch fly, the irate teacher was seen on video hitting his attacker with a punch of his own. Two of them, actually.

With that, two other males — one wearing a gray hoodie and the other wearing a white hoodie — go after the teacher and knock him to the floor. By this point, the frenzied students are behaving as if they're watching a UFC match. The teacher gets up again, and there's a little bit of pushing and shoving, but that's where the 45-second clip ends.

The DeKalb County School District said in a statement that several students reportedly initiated the physical fight with the teacher, and WXIA-TV reported that three students were charged with battery and disrupting public school while the teacher in question was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

In the aftermath, Superintendent Devon Horton said the trio of brawling students should not be "criminalized."

But what about the teacher? At present, his fate has not been made pubic.

The following are some examples of what happens when fed-up teachers fight back against students who cross the line and physically attack them.

14-year-old student hits 64-year-old teacher with basketball amid argument — and hits him with racial slurs, too. Teacher arrested after punching, beating on student. But a year later, DA has change of heart.


Marston Riley's last day teaching at Maywood Academy High School in the Los Angeles area was Nov. 2, 2018 — but Riley, then 64 years old, didn't depart by choice.

On that day, Riley — a music teacher — asked a 14-year-old male student to leave the classroom for not wearing a proper uniform. The student in question allegedly refused, KTLA-TV reported. Cellphone video shows the boy swearing at the teacher and repeatedly calling Riley, who is black, the N-word.

The student also is seen throwing a basketball at Riley, after which the station said Riley pulled out his cellphone to call for backup.

"C'mon, bro," the student is heard saying. "Walk the f**k back [N-word]." Riley does walk back, and video shows the student continue the verbal barrage, including calling Riley a "bitch" and challenging him: "I'm right here, bro. Everybody watching, my [N-word]. What's up?"

Riley warns the student several times, "You better leave" — and a minute and a half after video of the confrontation started, the teacher is seen suddenly punching the boy in the face. The student attempts to defend himself and moves backward to the far edge of the classroom as Riley delivers another blow and knocks him down. The student gets up, drops his backpack, and squares off. Riley then delivers what appear to be at least another dozen or so punches and goes after the kid again after others attempt to intervene.

Staff dragged away the boy who started the confrontation, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for moderate injuries and released, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing the sheriff’s department.

Riley was arrested Nov. 2 on suspicion of child abuse and causing great bodily injury on a child, KTLA reported, and he was released the next morning after posting $50,000 bail, the Times said. But all the students who spoke to the station hours after the fight were sympathetic to Riley and said the student in the video pushed him too far. In fact, one student told the station it was a setup: "Everything was planned out. There were students there who were already taking out their phones to record the incident. I don't think it's completely fair that they're just putting the blame all on [Riley], when I personally know that he's a good guy."

What's more, a GoFundMe page a fellow school district employee set up for Riley to assist with legal fees eventually topped $190,000.

In a 2020 interview, Riley told KCAL-TV he retired before the district handed down a punishment; the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office a year after the fight dismissed the case against Riley, NBC News said.

In the TV interview, Riley said people have to know about the continuous abuse teachers endure: "The sad part about it is that teachers are being treated like that every day. They're being assaulted, abused, and something needs to be said about it."

You can view a video report here that includes clips of Riley's fight with the student as well as the 2020 follow-up interview with Riley.

Angry student bumps teacher, steps on her foot. Teacher explodes, punches student — and gets charged and jailed. Not long after, however, authorities are singing a very different tune.


A Maryland high school teacher was charged and jailed in November 2019 after cellphone video recorded a fight between the teacher and an angry 17-year-old female student, who started things by bumping Vivian Noirie and stepping on her foot in a Largo High School classroom.

With that, Noirie started punching the student, who police said was angry at the teacher for contacting the student's parents the night before. Other school employees separated the teacher and the student, after which the student struck Noirie.

Noirie, 36, was charged with physical child abuse and second-degree assault and was locked up in the Prince George's County jail from Nov. 15 until Nov. 18. However, a lawyer for Noirie said students had assaulted the teacher three times already.

Prince George's County Education Association President Theresa Mitchell Dudley defended Noirie, saying that "what response comes from administration when you call the office and ask somebody to come up because a student is stalking you in your classroom, that's a whole other conversation that we need to have."

Dudley added in a later statement that "there is an issue of a lack of respect for educators. Verbal and physical assaults on educators are too common. There is a sense that as an educator we should continue to keep taking abuse, threats, and assaults from students, parents, and administrators because we are the adults in the room. ... Educators are human and need the same emotional and mental supports as students to ensure that situations are appropriately addressed. ..."

But by the following January, charges were dropped against Noirie, the Associated Press said. Dudley told the AP that cellphone video of the altercation shows the student was “clearly the aggressor” and that Noirie never should have been charged.

You can view a video report here about the incident, which includes blurred clips of the fight; the video report was published before charges against Noirie were dropped.

Substitute teacher's head left bloody in chair-throwing fight with middle schoolers caught on video. Official says students attacked first in classroom fracas.


A substitute teacher at a Dallas-area school was left bloody and required medical assistance after a chair-throwing fight with students caught on video in March 2022. The fight occurred at DeSoto West Middle School, police said, and a DeSoto ISD representative told WFAA-TV students attacked the teacher first.

Craig Miller — a school safety consultant and former Dallas ISD police chief — told KDFW-TV that legal action likely will be taken in this incident. "[The student will] face serious assault charges based upon the angle that I saw in the video," Miller added to the station. "It could very well be an aggravated assault, which also then could be enhanced, possibly because it happened to an educator in a school environment."

Miller also told KDFW the teacher in this case likely has the right to defend himself but that the video doesn't tell the entire story of what took place, particularly what led to the incident. You can view video of the fight here.

Battery warrants obtained for 3 high schoolers after video shows teacher getting physically attacked. Student actually throws chair at teacher, who fights back against student who repeatedly shoves him.


A fight between a Warren Easton Charter High School teacher and three students in early October 2023 was caught on video and soon went viral, WWL-TV reported. The teacher first approaches a student, after which the student pushes the teacher away three times, the station says.

With that, the teacher grabs the student, and the pair begin to fight. Then a second student hits the teacher with a chair and then throws the chair at the teacher.

Arrest warrants were obtained for three juveniles on charges of simple battery, the station said. You can view a report about the incident here.

Entitled student gets physical with substitute teacher who took her phone. But teacher fights back — and a knock-down, drag-out brawl ensues.


Video sent to WRAL-TV shows a North Carolina substitute teacher and a juvenile student arguing over the phone in a Rocky Mount High School classroom in April 2023. The student appeared to attempt to grab the phone from the teacher's hand, after which the teacher shoved the student away. With that, the student took a swing at the teacher with her right arm — and then the brawl began.

The teacher soon brought the student to the floor, threw a few punches, and pinned the screaming student while hollering for someone to get another teacher into the classroom. Soon after, the teacher and student both were charged with simple assault, WTVD-TV reported.

The teacher reportedly quit the profession in the aftermath and defended her actions; months later she reportedly was found guilty of misdemeanor simple assault. It isn't clear what happened to the student.

HS student who apparently believes he's invincible challenges substitute teacher, 'What's up, boy?' — and even gets in teacher's face while bumping, shoving him. Furious teacher finally has enough.


Cellphone video was rolling when a student began fighting a substitute teacher in a classroom at Golden Valley High School in Merced, California, in March 2023, KMPH-TV reported.

The station said video shows a student approaching the teacher and asking him, "What's up, boy?" and getting in the teacher's face and shoving him. Soon the teacher throws a clipboard at the student, the station said, after which the student begins throwing punches at the teacher. KMPH said it appears the teacher tried to hold the student in a headlock until the student surrendered.

Merced Union High School District told the station it has investigated the incident and can't provide further details due to privacy laws. You can view cellphone video here that shows the altercation.

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Student who punched teacher in face in viral video, 2 other brawling students shouldn't be 'criminalized': Superintendent



The Georgia high school student who punched a teacher in the face last week — an incident that was captured on a viral cellphone video — as well as two other brawling students seen in the clip should not be "criminalized," the school district superintendent said Tuesday.

DeKalb County School District Superintendent Devon Horton said each of the three students who were charged with battery and disrupting public school has a story and there is “more to it than meets the eye," Decaturish reported.

'This was not as cut and dry as the video showed.'

“I am going to be honest. From what I’ve known as a superintendent regarding the situation, I do not support them being criminalized. I do not," Horton told listeners at a news conference. "Every student deserves an opportunity ... and there are some factors that we are aware of that could have prevented this, and so we're looking into that right now.”

The fight took place last Tuesday at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithonia, which is about 20 minutes southeast of Atlanta.

What happened prior to the on-camera violence isn't clear, but the video begins with a male wearing a dark hoodie running up to a teacher wearing a jacket and tie and punching him in the face. As you might expect, onlookers in the hallway let out an approving holler in unison.

A security guard who's right next to the teacher puts the attacker in a bear hug and attempts to move him away, but the angry teacher hits his attacker with a punch of his own, which the crowd doesn't like one bit.

With that, two other males — one wearing a gray hoodie and the other wearing a white hoodie — go after the teacher and knock him to the floor. By this point, the frenzied students are behaving as if they're watching a UFC match.

The teacher gets up again, and there's a little bit of pushing and shoving, but that's where the 45-second clip ends. You can view it here.

The district said in a statement that several students reportedly initiated the physical fight with the teacher, WXIA-TV reported. The teacher in question is on paid administrative leave, Decaturish said.

Horton said at least one of the students involved in the fight had been at the school for less than a month.

“To be honest, this was not as cut and dry as the video showed,” Horton added during the news conference, according to Decaturish. “There were some things that, as a system, that we could have done better.”

Horton said challenges and stressors that students and teachers face in and out of school combine to create “the perfect storm for an incident like that," the outlet added.

Decaturish said Horton and other officials brought up a number of recently implemented restorative practice programs in the district that they say have resulted in better attendance and graduation rates, as well as fewer disciplinary incidents and suspensions at the high school.

You can view a video here showing school district officials discussing the incident at the news conference.

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Blaze News original: Tesla in the crosshairs: Leftist attacks against Elon Musk's car brand are massive and widespread



Among the biggest stories of the moment is the increasing deluge of Tesla vehicle vandalism — and worse.

Ever since the car company's CEO, Elon Musk, earlier this year joined President Donald Trump's team as the leader of the DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — and began cutbacks, leftists far and wide have been losing their minds.

'We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?'

One of the ways they've carried out their anger is vandalism of Tesla cars, primarily by "keying" them — scraping keys or other hard objects against the exterior surface as the offenders walk by.

Blaze News has looked at example after example of this woke phenomenon, and ironically Tesla's onboard Sentry Mode has caught the crooks red-handed, as the technology can record video of activity outside the vehicles.

For example, police in Lakewood, Colorado, arrested Shaydan Hessner and charged the 29-year-old for criminal tampering after video showed a Tesla Cybertruck getting keyed last month in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall, KDVR-TV reported.

Image source: Lakewood (Colo.) Police

Indeed, similar acts have been occurring at an alarming pace. Blaze News has noted documented attacks against Tesla — including arson and vandalism — as well as leftist violence against the cars in more than 20 states.

Here's a rundown, just for starters:

  • WTTG-TV reported that a swastika was keyed into the hood of a parked Tesla in Arlington County, Virginia, last month. Here's the video report.
  • A Utah woman told KSL-TV she's been the recipient of "targeted hostility" ever since purchasing her Tesla Cybertruck last summer — including, most recently, a profane sticker affixed to her vehicle. Check out the video report of her plight.
  • KRON-TV reported that on March 29 a Tesla's tires were slashed at a home in Novato, California, and the vehicle's window was smashed with a rock.
  • Police in Tustin, California, posted video on March 28 of a crook keying a Tesla the previous week. "If you recognize this male, please notify Detectives by emailing tpdtipline@tustinca.org or calling 714-426-2427," police said. "We’d like to talk to him about his bad day."
  • Police reportedly are looking for a suspect caught on video keying a Tesla in Seattle on March 23.
  • A male who admitted to vandalizing a Tesla truck in West Fargo, North Dakota, on March 29 could be charged with a felony, KVRR-TV reported. The station said Ryan Lyle Williams keyed the vehicle in a Costco parking lot. You can view video of the deed here.
  • Numerous Tesla drivers in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, complained in late March about a motorist they said aggressively pursued them. You can check out a video report here.
  • Multiple vehicles at a Tesla dealership in Encinitas, California, were spray-painted with swastikas on March 17, KUSI-TV reported. You can view a video report here.
  • A video posted March 19 on X allegedly shows a male actually reaching into the rear of his shorts and wiping his hand on a Tesla vehicle; he repeats the act another three times. The clip includes a still image of the aftermath. It isn't clear where the incident took place.
  • Spray-painted graffiti was discovered March 26 on a Santa Barbara Tesla dealership, KEYT-TV reported. You can view a video report here.
  • Police in Austin, Texas, found active "incendiary" devices at a local Tesla dealership just after 8 a.m. March 24.
  • An X video posted March 19 allegedly shows a male "throwing his dog's feces at a parked Cybertruck in St. Petersburg, [Florida]."
  • Photos and video show a Cybertruck at a Tesla dealership on the Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico spray-painted with a swastika, KOB-TV reported, adding that a second vehicle was set on fire there during the February incident.
  • A 27-year-old suspect was arrested March 14 for allegedly vandalizing a newly constructed Tesla Service Center in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, WFLD-TV reported, adding that Erin L. White was charged with felony criminal damage to property and criminal trespass.
  • Police in Brookhaven, Mississippi, said a 63-year-old male caught on Tesla security video March 28 vandalizing the vehicle with wire cutters is a Cuban illegal alien, WLOX-TV reported. You can view security video — as well as Osvaldo Torres-Rodriguez's booking photo — here.
  • A 24-year-old North Carolina woman was charged with injury/tampering with a vehicle after she allegedly used a white-milky substance on March 13 to draw "Nazi" and a swastika on a Tesla parked outside a food store near Clayton. Olivia Marie Antoine surrendered to authorities March 25.
  • Two Tesla Cybertrucks were damaged in a fire late on the night of March 17 at a Tesla service center in south Kansas City, WDAF-TV reported, adding that police believe the fire was intentionally set. You can view a video report here.
  • Two vandals were caught on video carving a swastika and the word “Nazis” on the side of a Tesla Cybertruck parked in Brooklyn, police told the New York Post on March 28. The pair fled on foot, cops also told the Post, which added that police are probing the vandalism as a hate crime.

The following are further examples, fleshed out with more detail, of the left's recent lawlessness.

Male, 70, at Tesla protest in Idaho accused of driving his car into Trump-supporting counterprotester


A 70-year-old male at a Tesla dealership protest in Meridian, Idaho, is accused of driving his car into a counterprotester, KIVI-TV reported. Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an "obscene gesture" toward a 49-year-old man before hitting the man with his car at the dealership on Franklin Road around 1 p.m. Saturday, the station said, citing the Meridian Police Department.

KIVI said the victim had just parked his truck — which was decorated with flags supporting President Donald Trump — and exited the vehicle when Talbot allegedly hit him with his car. The victim then transported himself to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the station said. The victim took note of Talbot's license plate, after which police went to Talbot's residence and arrested him, KIVI said.

Talbot was booked into the Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, the station said. He was not granted bail.

At the time of the incident, about 30 Tesla protesters and about 200 counterprotesters were gathered at the dealership, KBOI-TV reported, adding that the victim was identified as a counterprotester. You can view a video report here about the incident.

Arrested male is accused of slamming ATV into Tesla vehicle in Texas — and the bizarre incident is captured on viral video


Video caught the moment when a male riding an ATV slammed it into a Tesla vehicle. The suspect reportedly vandalized other Teslas the same day. Police in Texarkana, Texas, arrested 33-year-old Demarkeyun Marquize Cox on March 25 on charges of criminal mischief and failure to identify/giving false information. Jail records indicate Cox stands 5'2" and weighs 449 pounds. His total bond is $105,000.

Police said Cox's rampage began at the Golden Place restaurant on Summerhill Road, where he was captured on the Tesla's surveillance footage ramming into it at full speed. They were investigating the incident when police got a report of another Tesla damaged in a Lowe's parking lot. Police said soon after they saw a man fitting the provided description riding an ATV near the intersection of Summerhill and New Boston Roads. When they questioned Cox, he reportedly gave them a false name. Police got a third report of Tesla vandalism near Genesis Prime Care on College Drive after they arrested Cox. Police also said that the word "Elon" was scratched into two vehicles.

You can view a video report here from WBIR-TV about the arrest.

Female Tesla driver, 61, says male motorist repeatedly punched her after cutting her off, boxing her in on busy Arizona road — and video caught it all


A 61-year-old Tesla driver told KTVK-TV a male motorist recently cut her off, boxed her in, then exited his car and repeatedly punched her on a busy road in Flagstaff, Arizona. The woman, who wants to remain anonymous and went by the alias "Susan," explained to the station that she was on Route 66 when another vehicle started chasing her.

KTVK said Susan has video of the incident, and it shows a motorist in a green car pulling up next to her and then swerving in front of her and boxing her in. Susan told the station that the motorist then exited his car, walked over to her as she was behind the wheel of her Tesla, and then began punching her.

Susan told the station she soon bit her attacker's hand; indeed, video shows the male at one point pulling his hand away from the Tesla and shaking it. Moments later, video shows the male motorist's passenger exiting the green car and pulling the attacker away, after which the pair drive off.

Flagstaff police cited the suspect, who was due in court March 31, the station said.

A statement from police said officers responded to reports of "a road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter" around 12:30 p.m. March 19, KSAZ-TV reported, adding that investigators said the incident involved a Tesla and a Chevrolet Cavalier.

"The driver of the Cavalier, later identified as Robert Artherton, 33, of Flagstaff, drove in front of the Tesla, causing both vehicles to stop in the roadway," the statement said in part, KSAZ reported, adding that Artherton exited his vehicle and approached the driver’s side of the Tesla, after which a confrontation ensued.

KSAZ said both parties gave conflicting accounts regarding what took place, and police said they both suffered minor injuries. "All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures," officials said in the statement, KSAZ noted.

"Mr. Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in lieu of detention due to seeking medical attention for an injury to his hand," the statement said in part, according to KSAZ.

KTVK reported that another female Tesla owner said she recently departed a Flagstaff grocery store and found a note on her car that read, “She’s a Nazi and a loser.” A few weeks later, she received a threatening text calling her a “Racist POS," the station said.

KTVK said both Tesla owners also signed up for a gun safety course at Timberline Firearms, which is north of Flagstaff.

“They were targeted because they drove a Tesla and, as a result, felt quite vulnerable,” shop owner Rob Wilson told KTVK. “They were surprised someone would do something like that and realized if they were doing it, and targeting them because of car they drive, they needed to take additional measures to protect themselves.”

You can view a video report here about what happened to both Tesla drivers.

Crook caught on video repeatedly keying Tesla in Kansas. Family that owns vehicle has daughter who needs it, since she's confined to wheelchair.


The family of 18-year-old Abigail Gill owns a Tesla Model X because its automated driving function helps her drive more easily, the Wichita Eagle reported. Abigail has spinal muscular atrophy, and she uses a wheelchair, the paper said.

Abigail was out to eat with her mother, brother, and boyfriend on March 20, the paper said, after which they noticed the Tesla had been keyed deeply on both sides. Video connected to the Tesla showed that a male who had been sitting next to them had left the restaurant, keyed the passenger side of the Tesla, went back inside, came out again, and keyed the other side of the Tesla, then then picked up his family, the Eagle said.

Video also picked up the suspected culprit's face as well as the license plate of his car, she also told the Eagle.

Johnathan F. Erhart, 30, was charged with one count of criminal damage to property on March 28, the paper said. If convicted, he could be sentenced from five to 17 months in prison, the Eagle said, citing Kansas sentencing guidelines.

"It’s a super saddening and disappointing thing to see," Abigail told Fox News regarding the incident. You can view a video report about the incident here, which includes an interview with Abigail and security video of the culprit caught in the act.

Male caught on video spray-painting graffiti on Tesla in Whole Foods parking lot in Berkeley — but vehicle's owner is doubling down and expediting order for new Cybertruck


A male was caught on Tesla security video spray-painting graffiti on the Tesla in a Whole Foods parking lot in Berkeley, California, KGO-TV reported, adding that the incident took place March 16 and paint cans can be seen in both of the culprit's hands.

The Tesla owner, who identified himself as Hiroshi, told the station, "I wasn't shocked because this has been happening so frequently. Even the police, when they showed up, both officers are Tesla owners as well. They expressed to me that they've been dealing with this so much. It's like a trend."

Berkeley police have not identified the suspect, KGO said, adding that Hiroshi noted that he had the spray paint removed and is remaining loyal to Tesla. In fact, he told the station he plans to expedite his order for Tesla's new Cybertruck.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

'F**k off Nazi': Tesla Cybertruck owner in Western Michigan finds hateful message written on vehicle's window, says he gets 'a lot of middle fingers' every day


A Tesla Cybertruck owner who did not want to give his name told WZZM-TV that on March 15 he found a hateful message written on his vehicle at an undisclosed location in Western Michigan's Kent County.

The message read, "F**k off Nazi." You can view a video report here about the incident.

“We were out with my friends having dinner and drinks and come out to the vehicle with the message on the window," he told WZZM, adding that "there were people around the truck and taking photos and a lot of people laughing. It was very disappointing and frustrating.” He added to the station that his friends were "were embarrassed about it.”

The victim also told WZZM that he ordered the $100,000 Cybertruck four years ago, well prior to Elon Musk's work with the Trump administration. While the station said he didn't share his political views, he also said it doesn't matter: “Everyone works hard for what they have, and regardless of their political views, we should respect that.”

He also told WZZM that he has no plans to sell his Tesla to avoid such incidents: “I’m not going to let people tell me what I should buy or not buy.”

Still, he told the station that every day "I do get a lot of middle fingers" and that "it does not bother me as much when I’m by myself, but when we have kids inside the car, it’s kind of disappointing ... and sad.”

The victim told WZZM he plans to turn in the video to police. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office noted to the station that punishment for such an offense could result in a charge of malicious destruction of property.

Dim-witted protester lights himself on fire while trying to destroy Tesla charging stations in South Carolina; suspect arrested, charged with arson


A male who appeared to be protesting against Elon Musk's political activity accidentally lit himself on fire while trying to vandalize electronic vehicle charging stations, according to South Carolina police.

The incident unfolded on March 13 at the Tesla charging stations near a Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in northern Charleston. The male wrote "Free Ukraine" as well as another message against President Donald Trump with an expletive included, according to a report from the North Charleston Police Department.

Police said the male lit material stuffed into beer bottles and threw them at the stations. Witnesses told police the male lit himself on fire by accident and then fled from the scene.

Firefighters cut power to the chargers and then extinguished the fire. Investigators collected beer bottles from the alleged attack and had been trying to lift fingerprints from the glass. Police estimated that the male caused about $60,000 in damage to the charging stations.

Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, of James Island was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the incident, according to a March 14 news release from the U.S. Justice Department. Clarke-Pounder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Masked leftist thug cuts off Washington state Tesla driver — a mother on her way to doctor's appointment — gets out, walks up to victim's window, and tells her, 'This is a Nazi car'


A mother on her way to a doctor's appointment on March 19 in Lynnwood, Washington, told KCPQ-TV a male wearing a ski mask and a camouflage jacket harassed her in a scary incident because she was driving a Tesla.

Leigh, a Tesla owner for the last two years, added to the station, "He gets out and walks straight up to my door window. So I cracked my window, and I said, ‘What? What is the problem?’ He goes, ‘You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car. You're driving it, you need to sell your car.’"

Leigh recounted to KCPQ, "I could only see his eyes. ... I had no idea if I was safe or not. I felt very threatened."

You can view a video report here about the incident; it includes a clip of the masked male in question approaching her Tesla.

A week prior in Lynnwood, a number of Tesla Cybertrucks were spray-painted with graffiti and swastikas at a Tesla Service Station, KIRO-TV reported. The owner of one of the vandalized cars told the station that "as a gay Jewish person, I was kind of taken aback." The victim posted photos of the vandalism on X.

Philadelphia-area male accused of scrawling swastika onto Tesla vehicle — but new video allegedly shows suspect singing sorry tune when vehicle's owner confronts him



A Philadelphia-area male is accused of scrawling a swastika into the side of a Tesla last month — an act that was caught on the Tesla's security video system. Now a new video has emerged allegedly showing the Tesla owner confronting the culprit.
The Doylestown Republican Committee shared video of a male vandalizing the Tesla; police said the act took place in the parking lot of a Planet Fitness in Doylestown around 9:30 a.m. March 24.

The new video — which was livestreamed to Facebook — shows the Tesla owner allegedly confronting the suspect, who tells the owner, "I can wipe it off with a towel — it's not a key, it's a crayon." He added to the Tesla owner, "It didn't even work."

But the Tesla owner explains that his car is being fingerprinted by the police "right now," after which the confronted male asks, "What do you mean it's being fingerprinted?"

The Tesla owner said police were trying to "track" the suspect down but noted that Facebook users tracked him down.

“I’m sorry. I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you," the suspect is heard saying on video.

The Tesla owner asks the alleged suspect why he would scratch a swastika on his Tesla, after which the confronted male replies, "Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk" and admits that his actions were "misguided."

The Central Bucks Regional Police Department said in a statement that the suspect was identified by his gym membership identification card and his Pennsylvania driver's license. A criminal complaint was filed, and police on March 27 issued an arrest warrant for 55-year-old Chadd Ritenbaugh, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was hit with charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and two counts of harassment.

Masked thug caught on video spray-painting 'Nazi' on Tesla Cybertruck outside Oklahoma hotel in middle of night


A masked male was caught on video spray-painting the word "Nazi" on both sides of a Tesla Cybertruck in the middle of the night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, KFOR-TV reported.

Tulsa police said officers were called to a Residence Inn at 3:20 a.m. March 11, the station said, adding that the Cybertruck owner received a notification on her phone that someone was tampering with her vehicle. The suspect fled by the time she got to the parking lot, KFOR said.

You can view a video report here about the incident. Those with information about the person responsible can contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS with the reference number 2025-011539.

Texas Tesla owner files $1 million civil lawsuit against male accused of keying his Model X — an incident captured on the vehicle's onboard video system


A Texas Tesla owner has filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against the male accused of keying his Model X last month when it was parked at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, KTVT-TV reported.

DFW Airport Police arrested Rafael Hernandez in late March and charged him with criminal mischief, the station said, adding that the accused is expected to make his first court appearance on April 8. In the lawsuit, the Tesla owner is identified only by his initials due to fear of threats, KTVT added.

Majed Nachawati, managing partner with the Nachawati Legal Group in Dallas, which is representing the Tesla owner, told the station that "this matter has nothing to do with his political persuasions or affiliations. He happens to believe that Tesla, his Model X, is one of the best cars he's ever owned. And he enjoys driving it, plain and simple."

The Tesla's onboard camera captured images of a male holding a key fob and appearing to use it to vandalize the vehicle, the station said. The car's owner shared video of the alleged vandalism on social media, hoping to identify the culprit, after which it went viral and led to Hernandez's arrest, KTVK said.

"It's just kind of mind-boggling to me that there are people who are so triggered and so disturbed by anything these days that they can go so far as to just cause harm to somebody," the car's owner told the station soon after the incident.

More from KTVK:

Attorneys for the Tesla owner whose car was keyed said attacks on private individuals due to political disagreements cannot be tolerated. They acknowledged that the vehicle itself is not worth $1 million, but admit their client also wants to send a message with the lawsuit. He's hoping to discourage other acts of violence.

"We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?" Nachawati said. "Whether you're a Republican, whether you're a Democrat, I believe anyone who sees the video and who sees what happened would believe that deterrence would be the biggest part of this case."

Male caught on video keying a Tesla outside Houston Whole Foods confesses to crime — but insists his actions weren't politically motivated


A male caught on video keying a Tesla in the parking lot of a Houston Whole Foods on Feb. 13 confessed to the crime but told KPRC-TV that his actions weren't politically motivated.

Nicholas Carrion told the station that his behavior was the result of road rage after he said the Tesla driver cut him off, and he decided to follow her into the Whole Foods parking lot.

“I felt anger because the woman cut me off. We were both going into the Whole Foods, so I did not follow her directly. I got out and went to the store,” Carrion noted to KPRC. “But after I did my shopping, I came back outside and just couldn’t let it go.”

Carrion is now facing charges of felony criminal mischief — not terrorism charges — for the damage he caused to the woman’s Tesla, the station said. Carrion sent the following message to the victim: “I did not mean to cause you that much fear. This was in no way politically motivated. I just hope you are able to live a normal life and not be in fear to just do normal activities and drive around in the Tesla.”

The victim, however, told KPRC she had no prior knowledge of any road rage incident, expressed disbelief, and said if she had been aware of a confrontation, she wouldn't have left her car unattended in the parking lot. You can view a video report here about the new developments.

Masked punk caught on video scrawling, 'This car supports Nazis,' on Tesla in downtown Syracuse


An unidentified individual wearing a face mask was caught on video March 16 scrawling, "This car supports Nazis," on a Tesla vehicle in downtown Syracuse, WSTM-TV reported.

“Protesting is a right that we all have, but destroying people’s property is not," the car owner, Shawn Freed, told the station in an interview.

Freed posted the video of the vandalism to his X account, after which Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg reposted the clip.

Despite the hassle, Freed told WSTM he's not getting rid of his car: "In some ways, I see myself as someone who is a voice for the other people who are innocent bystanders who have their property destroyed."

Freed added to the station that he reported the vandalism to Syracuse police, who are investigating. You can check out a video report here about the incident, which also includes the interview with Freed.

Florida woman charged with felony after allegedly smearing Tesla door handle with large wad of gum, spitting on it — which left door inoperable


The Tesla's owner said the alleged gum-wad vandalism was captured on the built-in cameras of his car, which was in the parking garage of the JCPenney store at the Aventura Mall around 12:45 p.m. March 22.

Yamaris Marrero, 45, of Hallandale Beach was arrested and charged with a felony. Police said she was identified through the video, which showed a vandal smearing the large wad of gum on the car's door handle and then spitting on it. She was also seen getting into a white Honda Pilot before leaving the garage. The Tesla's owner said the damage from the gum rendered the door handle inoperable.

The police report said a security guard spotted Marrero at the mall food court on March 27, after which she was arrested. Police said she made an admission that was redacted from the publicly released report.

Marrero originally was charged for criminal mischief with a hate crime enhancement, but that was dropped on March 28, and the charge was lowered from a second-degree felony to a third-degree felony. She was held on a $2,500 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

The Tesla's owner told WPLG-TV that politics probably motivated the vandalism and that there was no personal interaction between him and the accused woman; police said it was not a traffic dispute.

The interview with the Tesla owner can be viewed on WPLG's video report on YouTube, while the video of the woman smearing the gum can be viewed on an earlier news report.

Thug allegedly pours gasoline on Tesla Model S in Seattle, lights vehicle on fire, runs away


A witness told Seattle police that on the night of March 13, a male threw gasoline on a Tesla Model S in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, lit the car on fire, and ran off, KING-TV reported.

Police told the station the right front tire area was damaged, while the quarter panel, the hood, and the car's battery all melted. The Seattle Fire Department put out the fire, KING said, adding that police said they are investigating the incident as arson.

The suspect has not been identified, the station said, adding that police found the gas can nearby and obtained security images of the suspect carrying the gas can and a plastic bag.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

'Old man' caught on video keying Tesla in San Jose arrested for felony — and a similar-looking male is confronted in hilarious follow-up clip


An "old man" who was caught on video keying a Tesla in San Jose, California, was arrested for his "act of felony vandalism."

The incident happened in a Costco parking lot between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 14, KRON-TV reported, citing the owner of the vandalized Tesla. The now-viral video shows a male with white hair and a white beard and wearing a USA jacket using a key to scratch the exterior of the Tesla vehicle.

A second video shows a similar-looking male wearing the same jacket getting confronted about the incident, and he denies involvement. The title of the pair of videos is "WATCH THIS: Old man who keyed Tesla in San Jose is confronted."

San Jose Police announced on the night of March 17 that "we successfully identified, located, and arrested the individual responsible for this act of felony vandalism."

You can view KRON's video report here about the incident.

Male reportedly 'under investigation' after allegedly keying Tesla Cybertruck at ritzy New Hampshire mountain resort


A male was "under investigation" after allegedly keying a Tesla Cybertruck at ritzy mountain resort in New Hampshire in March.

The culprit was caught on video allegedly dragging a key across the vehicle outside the Omni Mountain Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, Fox News reported.

You can view video here of the alleged vandalism.

The Tesla owner, Kerri Pouliot, told Fox News that she and her husband "were told at the time of the incident that they would be getting a warrant" for the male suspect's arrest.

Pouliot recorded a video when police arrived at the scene, and an officer can be heard asking, "Do you want to talk about what happened here?" the cable network reported.

The accused vandal snapped back, "No, I don’t know what happened," Fox News said.

Police then told the man that they "had him on video," after which the male replied, "I don't know what happened," the cable network noted.

Carroll Police Chief Tadd Bailey told the New Hampshire Union Leader that "the incident is under investigation by us and the Coos County Attorney’s Office," Fox News added.

Pouliot told the cable network that she and her husband have "no intentions of ever selling our truck." Omni Mountain Resort & Spa could not be reached for comment, Fox News said.

Couple in Oregon wake up to find their Tesla vehicles spray-painted with the words 'divest' and 'depose' — but they're refusing to cave to woke mob and won't part with their cars


A couple in Eugene, Oregon, told KEZI-TV that they found their Tesla vehicles vandalized and spray-painted with the words “divest” and “depose" on the morning of March 20. The couple requested anonymity to protect their safety and added to the station that a camera on their property caught a person approaching the vehicles before dawn. They also said there has been a rise in people being aggressive to them on the road, KEZI reported.

“This is really unfortunate that someone feels they need to vandalize and cost somebody time and money,” one of the victims told the station. “I feel very violated. We’re regular people, we live and work in this community, we contribute to community service.”

The couple added to KEZI that while their vehicles are being repaired, they had to take them to Portland — a nearly two-hour drive — because their insurance company advised them to keep the Teslas away from Eugene. Still, despite the hassle and heartache, the couple told the station they’re happy with their Tesla vehicles and are planning to keep them.

You can view a video report here about the incident.

Federal grand jury charges male, 41, with arson after authorities accuse him of throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealership in Oregon


A federal grand jury charged a Salem, Oregon, male with arson after authorities accused him of throwing Molotov cocktails at a local Tesla dealership, the Salem Reporter said.

Adam M. Lansky, 41, now faces two charges of attempted arson in addition to an earlier charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device, the outlet said, citing an indictment filed in Portland U.S. District Court on March 18.

In the new federal case, Lansky is charged with unlawfully possessing a Molotov cocktail and two counts of attempted arson — one for the Tesla dealership building and the second for a Tesla vehicle, the Reporter said.

Lansky was arrested March 4 after a federal investigation linked him to the attempted arson on Jan. 20 and gunshots that destroyed windows on Feb. 19, according to a previous statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the outlet added

More from the Reporter:

Surveillance footage from the dealership on the morning of the arson showed a man lighting around seven Molotov cocktails and throwing them at Tesla vehicles and the dealership. The man also threw a rock at the dealership’s windows, breaking the glass.

The incident caused around $500,000 in damage, including damaging seven Tesla cars, the complaint said.

Lansky is in custody at Yamhill County Jail, according to the county jail roster, and records show he's scheduled to appear in court April 3, the outlet reported. You can view a video report here on the case.

Creep wearing all black in Las Vegas torches at least 5 Teslas with Molotov cocktails, shoots at them — and now authorities have a suspect


A male wearing all black torched at least five Tesla vehicles with Molotov cocktails and then shot at them just before 3 a.m. March 18, Las Vegas police said, adding that the incident took place at a Tesla Service Center on West Badura Avenue.

The word "resist" was also spray-painted in red onto the door of the service center. A photo on social media showed the vandalism.

Paul Hyon Kim, 36, appeared in court March 27 to face federal arson charges in connection with the incident, the Department of Justice said. Kim faces up to 20 years in prison on the arson charge alone; he also was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.

62-year-old male charged with criminal damage for allegedly keying Tesla in Arizona parking lot; the act is caught on video


A 62-year-old male was charged with criminal damage for allegedly keying a Tesla vehicle last month in a Gilbert, Arizona, parking lot — and the incident was caught on the car's video system, KTVK-TV reported.

The Tesla owner, Shant Janesian, noticed the damage on his car, then viewed video recorded by his vehicle, the station said, adding that the culprit keyed his Tesla at SanTan Village.

Janesian filed a report with Gilbert Police, and in addition to viewing the Tesla video, investigators also used surveillance video from surrounding businesses prior to arresting David Moller, KTVK reported.

"Just because something that has nothing to do with me, and he’s just going around keying Teslas over certain political reasons, and it's just like, 'Dude, you don’t even know anything about me,'" Janesian told the station in the aftermath.

KTVK asked the victim what he would say to Moller, and Janesian replied, “Was it worth it? Like, was it worth it? Did you really get anything out of it? Did it really help your cause? Whatever you’re against, or ... was it just a dumb mistake?”

Janesian told the station he'll continue to drive his Tesla. You can view a video report here about the incident.

Video shows male slamming suitcase against Model Y Tesla in southern California airport parking lot as he walks by, causing $3,000 in damage


A video shows a male slamming a suitcase against a Model Y Tesla in a parking lot at Ontario International Airport in southern California, which caused $3,000 in damage.

The Daily Press report cited a March 19 post on X from Spotted Model: Cars & Tech which includes two videos and two still images related to the vandalism that allegedly took place at 9:25 p.m. March 2 in parking lot No. 3.

One video shows the male walking in the parking lot with a suitcase, and he suddenly slams the suitcase into the vehicle and then walks away.

"Although it’s dark, we have lots of detail here, including his suitcase, the logo on his shirt, and a pretty clear facial visual. Unfortunately, police have made little progress in identifying him," the post notes, adding that "in just about any other car, the owner would be out of luck. With Sentry Mode we’ve got a good chance of finding this guy with your help. On behalf of the owner and his family, thank you!"

The paper said airport and city officials have not yet responded to messages about the incident.

Tesla owner in North Carolina says vandal etched the word 'Nazi' on his vehicle


A man from Garner, North Carolina, told WRAL-TV his Tesla recently was vandalized.

The station on March 23 reported that the Tesla owner — who gave the station only his first name, Jeremy, since he feared for his safety — that someone etched the word “Nazi” into his Tesla.

“I was working from home, and my wife was out running some errands. [She] came home, and as she was coming in past the car, she saw the damage to it,” Jeremy told WRAL. “We immediately started reviewing the footage from the car because it does have Sentry Mode, but unfortunately we didn’t see anything.”

Jeremy told the station he's not sure when his Tesla was vandalized. He added to WRAL that police also found nothing while checking surveillance videos from stores he's visited.

“I bought this back in 2019 and paid it off a month ago,” he added to WRAL. “This was back in the time when Elon was just some guy tweeting about rocket motors and fast cars and wasn’t problematic at the time.”

Vandal caught on surveillance video keying 3 Teslas outside Florida shopping plaza


A vandal was caught on surveillance video keying three Tesla vehicles last month outside a shopping plaza in Bradenton, Florida, WFLA-TV reported.

You can view a video report here about the incident, which took place in the parking lot of Pinebrook Commons and caused more than $7,000 in damages, police said.

“Two of the Tesla owners, father and son, they were just there enjoying dinner," Bradenton Police Department Public Information Officer Meredith Censullo told the station. "And then there was a third Tesla owner who was, you know, shopping or doing something within that plaza."

Censullo added to WFLA that "it would certainly appear like these cars were chosen because they were Tesla vehicles. At the end of the day, though, it is completely unacceptable to damage anyone’s car."

Tesla owner Russell Blackburn told the station he's concerned: “It has been on my brain, you know, going out to public places. So when I go out with people, I ask them, ‘Do you mind driving?’ Because I don’t want to leave my car unattended."

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Female reportedly orders her 5 lovers to kidnap, torture, and deprive man of food and sleep for a week at Red Roof Inn



A woman and her five reported lovers are facing serious criminal charges after they allegedly kidnapped and tortured a man at an Ohio Red Roof Inn.

Aaron Bradshaw, 49; Austin Bradshaw, 23; Michael Esqueda, 28; Martina Jones, 28; David Cessna, 26; and Chance Johnston, 27, were all arrested March 21. A grand jury on Thursday indicted all six suspects. They all were charged with one count of kidnapping, three counts of felonious assault, and two counts of tampering with evidence.

'His injuries were results of being struck with a baseball bat, struck with fists, elbows, stomping on him when he was on the ground, which over time resulted in multiple fractured bones.'

Citing the police report, the Kansas City Star said a dogfight broke out at Jones' home, and she attempted to break up the melee, but she ended up breaking her arm.

Jones allegedly told Austin Bradshaw, Aaron Bradshaw, Esqueda, Cessna, and Johnston that a 26-year-old man broke her arm.

Police claimed Jones ordered the five men to beat and assault the victim.

The men then punched, kicked, and beat the 26-year-old with a metal baseball bat for several hours, according to a police report.

Police suspect that the victim was assaulted and kidnapped March 14.

Court docs say the group held the kidnapped man against his will for over a week at a Red Roof Inn in Maumee.

The man reportedly was forced to stand for “extended periods of time,” was allowed to eat and drink only one time a day, and slept for a total of 10 hours over seven days.

The group allegedly told the victim that if he tried to escape, they would "beat his [expletive]."

On March 21, the suspects allowed the 26-year-old to leave the motel to go to the Speedway convenience store, police said.

"When he was there, he made contact with an individual, who got in contact with the victim’s mother," stated Maumee Chief of Police Josh Sprow.

The 26-year-old’s mother reportedly rushed to the Red Roof Inn to help her son.

Officers with the Maumee Police Department responded to the hotel.

The victim sustained injuries all over his body and was transported to a local hospital, police said. He's expected to survive his injuries.

The Blade reported that prosecutors told the judge that the victim suffered serious injuries as a result of the abuse, including broken bones, but “the totality of those injuries has not been determined.”

“He was being essentially tortured, assaulted, over the time frame of a week,” stated Sprow. “His injuries were results of being struck with a baseball bat, struck with fists, elbows, stomping on him when he was on the ground, which over time resulted in multiple fractured bones.”

Assistant city prosecutor Andy Lastra called the case “extremely disturbing.”

Investigators determined that Jones was in romantic relationships with the five male suspects and has multiple children with them.

“It’s clearly a strange situation when you have multiple adult men involved in a relationship with a female, and then this whole felonious assault/kidnapping taking place. Definitely not something that is normally happening in our city,” Sprow noted.

All six suspects have been detained at the Lucas County Corrections Center and were given a $200,000 bond, according to court records.

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