ARIZONA: Suspect Arrested in Mesa Tesla Cybertruck Arson Case

MESA, Ariz. — A 35-year-old man, Ian Moses, was arrested Monday, April 28, 2025, in connection with a suspected arson attack at a Tesla dealership in Mesa, Arizona, where a Cybertruck was set ablaze. The incident, which occurred around 2 a.m. near Southern Avenue and Sossaman Road, is being investigated as a possible act of domestic terrorism, with federal authorities now involved.

According to the Mesa Police Department, officers responded to reports of an explosion at the Tesla Service Center and found a Cybertruck engulfed in flames. Security footage from the Tesla Security Center captured Moses, who allegedly arrived on a bicycle and interacted with a suspicious van parked near the dealership before setting the fire. The footage was instrumental in identifying and apprehending the suspect. Additionally, the word "THEIF" [sic] was spray-painted on the dealership’s exterior, indicating vandalism alongside the arson.

Moses was booked into jail on one count of arson of a structure and property. By Monday afternoon, he was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for further federal charges, though specifics of those charges remain undisclosed. The Mesa Police Department is collaborating with federal partners, including the ATF and FBI, as the investigation continues, with additional charges pending.

The fire damaged one Cybertruck, valued at approximately $105,485, and spread to a second vehicle, causing an estimated $107,485 in damages. Two charging stations, worth about $550 each, were also affected. No injuries were reported, and firefighters extinguished the blaze before it could spread to the dealership’s interior.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has linked this incident to a broader wave of attacks on Tesla properties, labeling them acts of domestic terrorism. “Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars,” Bondi stated. This rhetoric reflects a federal crackdown on similar incidents across the country, with at least five other individuals facing federal charges for Tesla-related vandalism and arson.

The Mesa incident follows a pattern of attacks on Tesla dealerships, including a February 2025 arson in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a March 2025 fire in Kansas City, Missouri. Authorities have noted a rise in such incidents since Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in controversial political initiatives, though no direct motive for Moses’ actions has been confirmed.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Mesa police and federal agencies working to determine the full scope of the incident and any potential connections to other attacks. The damaged Cybertruck was towed from the scene Monday afternoon, and the dealership has resumed normal operations.

Sources: Fox News, The Arizona Republic, Breitbart, KTAR News, ABC15 Arizona

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