Crime
Police said they were able to track down Harrison Grant Randall with help from a tipster.
Aided by a tipster, Brookline police on Wednesday arrested a Roslindale man accused of tagging Tesla vehicles with stickers of Elon Musk.
Harrison Grant Randall, 39, was arrested shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday in Roslindale, the Brookline Police Department said in a press release. He faces six counts of defacing property.
Randall’s arrest came after several Tesla drivers reported their cars had been vandalized with stickers of the automaker’s controversial CEO, who’s become a prominent figure in right-wing politics as head of President Donald Trump’s nongovernmental Department of Government Efficiency. Brookline police said tips poured in after the department shared a video Tuesday of the vandalism suspect engaged in a confrontation with a Tesla driver whose car was tagged.
“Why do you think you have the right to do that?” the person filming asked in the video.
“It’s my free speech,” the suspect replied, later adding, “You guys can get a better car. If you can afford that car…”
Within hours of the social media blast, a community member told police they spotted Randall riding a bicycle on Chestnut Hill Avenue, and Brookline police said officers were able to stop and identify him. Police took Randall into custody the following day after Brookline District Court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Randall’s bail has been set at $2,500, according to police. Court records indicate Randall was scheduled for arraignment Thursday; it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney to comment on his behalf.
Earlier this week, authorities in Littleton said seven Tesla charging stations caught fire early Monday in what they believe was an “intentionally set” blaze. No cars were charging at the time, Tesla said in a post on X, referring to the chargers as “critical infrastructure for EV drivers.” By Wednesday afternoon, the company said the chargers were repaired and back online.
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