An Oregon man accused of trying to destroy property at a Tesla dealership in Salem twice since January has been arraigned on federal charges, according to court documents obtained by Nexstar’s KOIN-TV in Portland.
Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested Tuesday after authorities linked him to reports that someone had been throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting at the dealership on two separate occasions.
The first instance, on Jan. 20, involved a Molotov cocktail, according to court documents.
“The Subject walked between the building and the vehicles parked in front of it, then pulled out a bag and started lighting an object on fire,” the court document said. “The Subject threw the object at a red Tesla SUV parked in front of the building, which started to catch fire, and then threw an object through the showroom window. The Subject proceeded to throw three or four more objects at other vehicles parked in front of the building.”
A month later, on Feb. 19, officials received reports that someone had caused damage by firing bullets into the building and a vehicle. Court documents said the suspect had been seen carrying an AR-15-style rifle with a suppressor.
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The Molotov cocktails seized by authorities at the northeast corner of the Tesla parking lot. (US District Court – District of Oregon) -
The Molotov cocktails seized by authorities at the northeast corner of the Tesla parking lot. (US District Court – District of Oregon) -
(US District Court – District of Oregon) -
(US District Court – District of Oregon) -
(US District Court – District of Oregon) -
Authorities are investigating a possible arson at a Tesla dealership in Salem on Inauguration Day 2025. (Salem Police)
No suspects were found at the scene on either occasion, according to police.
Investigators later said Lansky could be spotted in surveillance footage throwing the Molotov cocktails that “struck a dealership building and several vehicles” in January and his car could be seen parked near the dealership during the second attack in February.
Lansky, a Salem resident, was charged by criminal complaint with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device in a federal court.
He will remain in custody until his next court appearance. No other details were immediately available.
Tesla dealerships throughout the U.S. became a site for protest gatherings this weekend amid backlash over the automaker’s billionaire CEO, Elon Musk, and his push to slash government spending on behalf of President Donald Trump. But at least one other person is accused of vandalizing a different Tesla dealership in Colorado with incendiary devices in January and February, according to officials. The suspect, in that particular case, also spray-painted the words “Nazi cars” on the building, the Associated Press reported.
The cases come amid rising concerns voiced by Democrats and some Republicans about Musk’s influence over the administration of President Donald Trump, and accusations that Musk made a gesture compared to a Nazi salute on Trump’s inauguration day.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
