Man accused of firebombing Colorado Tesla dealership arrested in North Texas
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in North Texas and faces federal charges in connection with the vandalism of a Tesla dealership in Colorado, officials said.
Cooper Jo Frederick was arrested in Plano, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday, March 31, in a post on X. He’s accused of firebombing a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado.
Bondi called a wave of recent attacks against Tesla dealerships and vehicles “domestic terrorism” and said the Department of Justice is seeking a 20-year prison sentence for Frederick.
“All of these cases are a serious threat to public safety,” Bondi said in a video on X. “Therefore there will be no negotiating.”
Frederick was initially arrested March 13 by Loveland police regarding an ignited incendiary device that was thrown at the Tesla dealership building on March 7. The device landed between two vehicles, the Loveland Police Department said in a news release.
There were several people cleaning the building at the time, but a responding officer extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported. A number of cars and the building were damaged by rocks during the same incident, according to the release.
Frederick was charged with possessing an explosive or incendiary device, use of an explosive or incendiary device during a felony, second-degree arson to a business, criminal mischief and criminal attempt to commit a class 6 felony, the release states.
The 24-year-old was later set free on bond with GPS monitoring, Loveland police said.
Frederick was booked into the Hopkins County Jail following his Monday arrest by federal agents in Plano. He faces a federal charge of possession of a weapon, according to jail records.
Hopkins County is east of Dallas and about 100 miles from Fort Worth.
