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A Florida resident faces felony charges after allegedly using chewing gum to vandalize a Tesla, causing thousands of dollars in damage. The incident, which was recorded by the vehicle’s surveillance system, has added to a growing list of attacks on the electric car manufacturer’s vehicles since the start of the year.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Yamaris Marrero from Hallandale Beach, allegedly targeted the Tesla on March 22 in a JCPenney parking structure. According to police reports, she used a substantial amount of gum to damage the car’s door handle mechanism, resulting in repair costs exceeding $2,600.
Florida woman, 45, charged with felony for sticking gum on Tesla door handle, causing over $2,600 in damage.pic.twitter.com/2KxvYm9KaU
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) March 29, 2025
The Tesla owner expressed concerns that the attack was politically motivated, citing societal divisions and opposition to Elon Musk’s connections with former President Donald Trump.
Mall security personnel later spotted Marrero in the Aventura Mall’s food court, leading to her arrest. Law enforcement officials reported that she subsequently acknowledged her involvement in the incident.
Liberal woman arrested and charged with
a felony for vandalizing Tesla with ‘large wad’ of chewing gum.Florida woman Yamaris Marrero, 45, has been charged with felony criminal mischief for causing nearly $3,000 worth of damage to a Tesla by covering it in chewing gum.… pic.twitter.com/PPeyVRYkWE
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 30, 2025
Initially, the charges included a hate crime enhancement, but this was later removed during bond court proceedings on Friday, reducing the severity of the felony from second to third degree.
As of Friday, Marrero remained in custody at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond set at $2,500, marking another instance in the recent wave of attacks targeting Tesla vehicles nationwide.
