The Loveland Tesla dealership has once again been the victim of an arson and vandalism incident, however this newest case appears to have been caused by a different suspect than the previous few incidents, police said.
Just after midnight on Friday morning, Loveland Police Department officers were dispatched to the dealership on North Lincoln Avenue. Preliminary investigation indicated that a fire that started by an incendiary device — what police believe to be a container with gas inside — between two vehicles that were between two buildings, “putting several occupants inside Tesla at risk,” according to a release from the department. Police clarified that a cleaning crew was inside the building early Friday morning.
Officers were able to quickly extinguish the fire “preventing extensive damage,” but noted the strong smell of gasoline, according to the release. The Tesla building and several of its vehicles were also damaged by what appears to be thrown rocks.
The LPD is currently gathering evidence from the incident, while continuing its partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and updates on this incident will follow as more information becomes available, according to the release.
The local Tesla dealership declined to comment.
The LPD believes it is possible that people may have witnessed suspicious activity during the timeframe and is asking anyone with information to call the department’s tip line at 970-962-2032 or Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.
The department made clear in its release that this incident does not appear to be connected to 42-year-old Lucy Nelson, who was arrested at the end of last month for a believed connection to several arson and vandalism incidents at the Tesla dealership. Nelson is accused of involvement in incidents at the dealership on Jan. 29, Feb. 2, Feb. 7 and Feb. 24, resulting in her being charged in both the 8th Judicial District in Larimer County as well as the United States District Court of Colorado.
She appeared for a hearing in federal court Tuesday morning where a federal magistrate judge ruled she could be released on bond; she has since been released on a personal recognizance bond.
Loveland Police Chief Tim Doran issued a statement on Nelson’s release from custody in the Friday release, with a department spokesperson clarifying that her bond “sets a precedent for others.”
“I couldn’t be more disappointed with a criminal justice system that would release an individual on a PR bond who placed incendiary devices at a Loveland business,” Doran said in the release. “This decision is not just troubling for our community but reflects a broader problem faced nationwide. It’s incredibly challenging to keep our citizens safe from copycat behavior when there are no repercussions to lawlessness.”
Nelson appeared in Fort Collins for her first appearance in the local case Friday and was given additional time to get a lawyer; Nelson was scheduled to return to court at 10:30 a.m. March 21.
Deputy District Attorney Brian Hardouin also notified 8th Judicial District Court Judge Stephen Jouard that the District Attorney’s Office plans on filing additional charges against Nelson in the local case but did not provide any additional details. Nelson is currently charged with use of an explosive or incendiary device in the commission of a felony, a class 2 felony; attempted second-degree arson of a value of between $100,000 and $1 million and criminal mischief, a class 6 felony, according to court records.
Nelson is also scheduled to undergo a preliminary hearing before Federal Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak for her federal case at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. While she was originally charged with malicious destruction of property, a class 4 federal felony, prosecutors have since filed new charges in the federal case — two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm as a destruction device and attempted malicious destruction of property, all class 4 federal felonies.
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