WASHINGTON, DC – Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a series of property defacement incidents involving political hate speech scrawled on Tesla vehicles throughout Northeast Washington, the Metropolitan Police Department announced Thursday.
Justin Fisher, 49, and Emily Fisher, 50, both of Northeast DC, turned themselves in on April 1 and 2, respectively, after multiple defacing offenses were reported throughout March.
Between March 1 and March 21, officers documented repeated incidents across several blocks of K, 11th, G, and F Streets NE, where vehicles—specifically Teslas—were vandalized with political messages. The male suspect was connected to eight incidents, while the female suspect was linked to five.
The charges include eight counts of Defacing Public or Private Property for Justin Fisher and five counts for Emily Fisher.
The MPD is investigating the offenses as potentially motivated by political affiliation bias, in accordance with D.C. Official Code § 22-3701. However, the designation as a hate crime remains preliminary and subject to prosecutorial review.
Key Points
- Suspects Justin and Emily Fisher charged in Tesla vandalism incidents in NE DC
- MPD investigating possible political bias behind repeated defacing of private property
- Eight defacement charges filed against male suspect; five against female suspect