A Texas man riding an ATV has been arrested for allegedly ramming his 4-wheeler into many Tesla cars during an unforeseen reckless rampage on Tuesday.
Demarqeyun Marquize Cox was brought in by police after one of his alleged attacks was recorded by the Tesla he ran into on purpose, according to cops in Texarkana, Texas.
Cox allegedly saw the electric vehicle immobile in the parking lot of a Golden Palace Chinese buffet as its owner was off for lunch inside the restaurant.
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The 33-year-old Texas man loaded back and deliberately slammed into the side of the red Tesla, as seen in footage obtained by KTBS.
Owner Virita Carstaffin told the outlet after Cox’s arrest that the 5-foot-2, 449-pound driver left visible damage to the front driver-side door.
Carstaffin was alerted about the situation by a phone notification and revealed she would have to pay over $1,000 to fix the whole door.
Cops were called to the area of the incident following the damage of a second Tesla at a nearby Lowe’s, the Texarkana Police Department said.
He was stopped by police just over a mile south of the Golden Palace as an officer recognized Cox from the Chinese buffet clip.
According to reports, Cox claimed to be a different person and gave out a false name during his first interrogation with police.
Officers had already realized it was him and arrested the Texas man for his reckless attack on the Tesla.
“Based on what they had seen in the video they knew for a fact that he was the one who at least hit the initial Tesla,” Texarkana Police Public Information Officer Shawn Vaughn said to the outlet.
Cox is now being charged with felony criminal mischief resulting in damage in the region of $2,500 and $30,000 and failure to identify, cops said.
After his arrest, a third damaged Tesla was reported, and the yet-to-be-determined suspect had carved “ELON” into the side of the other two cars, seemingly making a reference to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Cox has only been charged with damaging the first car, but officials say the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
He is currently being held at the Bi-State Justice Center on a $105,000 bond, according to jail records.
Cox’s actions mark the latest violent attack against the Elon Musk-owned company, after the billionaire’s involvement in the Trump administration.
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Several arsonists have been accused of setting fire to electric vehicles at dealerships, while others have vandalized the cars with anti-Trump graffiti and antisemitic imagery.
