Lacey Tesla arson suspect was last seen headed south on Chehalis trail, investigators say (2025)

A man suspected of starting a fire and damaging a Tesla vehicle charger in Lacey last week was last seen headed south on the Chehalis Western Trail, investigators told the media on Tuesday.

Seattle FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives representatives, as well as Lacey police Chief Robert Almada, gathered in city council chambers to provide an update on an incident that damaged the charging station at South Sound Center on April 8.

They also urged the public to come forward with any information they might have.

“Specifically, we’re looking for photos and videos captured between late evening on Monday, April 7, and early morning on Tuesday, April 8,” said Seattle FBI special agent in charge W. Mike Herrington. “We’re looking for photo or videos taken around the South Sound Center, including the Target and Kohl’s stores, the Chehalis Western and Woodland Creek trails, or any location on the trails in the Lacey/Olympia area.”

About 1:35 a.m. April 8, Lacey police were dispatched to reports of a loud noise or explosion. Officers arrived to find damage and panels blown out, but no active fire, at the charging stations, said Chief Almada. Lacey Fire District 3 did not respond as a result, he said.

“The preliminary investigation gave officers reason to believe that this was most likely an intentional criminal act, and not an accident or malfunction,” Almada said. “The Lacey Police Department contacted the FBI and the ATF and requested a joint criminal investigation into this incident.”

“We’re treating this as if it is presumptively domestic terrorism,” Herrington added. “We don’t know the motivation behind this, but if it is a terroristic motivation, then we would expect somebody to potentially do this again, and in this case, it was property damage. What we would really hate to see is if somebody were injured or even killed in one of these incidents, if it were to continue.”

Investigators have reviewed video footage and are looking for a suspect, who is described as a white man between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2 in height. He was last seen wearing a dark jacket with a hood, gray pants and a face covering.

“The suspect walks with a unique gait, including a slight limp with his right leg kicking out and, at times, his right hand held behind his back. He was carrying a white bag, which may have been plastic,” the FBI previously said in a news release.

Although the man may have been injured as a result of the suspected fire, he was walking like that before the incident, Herrington said.

Chief Almada added that the suspect was last seen headed south on the Chehalis Western Trail.

There also could be more than one suspect, Herrington said.

“We’re not ruling out that there could be an accomplice in this sort of incident, sometimes we do see that,” he said. “So it’s possible somebody else is involved and could have helped with the preparation of potentially getting the suspect to actually approach the device.”

Also of interest to investigators: A Tesla vehicle that was at the charging station, but is not thought to have been damaged by the fire or explosion.

“We’re looking for a 2016-2019 Tesla Model X, gray to dark gray in color, that was spotted at the charging station prior to and during the arson incident,” Herrington said. “This vehicle is not believed to be involved in the incident, but will be a potential witness to the events that evening.”

After the press conference, Chief Almada was asked, given the man’s unusual gait, whether the incident could have been a coincidence — a man walking past the charger when it overheated, for example.

“It’s clear that it’s an intentional act,” he said.

Anyone with information related to the arson at the Tesla charging station is asked to contact the FBI’s tip line at 800-225-5324, submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov, or contact the Lacey Police Department at 360-459-4333.

This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM.