INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man has been charged after allegedly setting a Tesla on fire and causing over $100,000 in damages to the victims' property.
According to court documents, a 911 call was placed for a car fire in the 5700 block of Winding Way Lane, near Kessler Boulevard East Drive and Binford Boulevard, on June 30 around 3 a.m.
The victims told authorities that on June 28, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., an unknown man, later identified by police as Matthew Nadolski, sprayed blue paint on their Ring doorbell that was on the outside of their garage.
Court documents say Nadolski then spray painted on the garage door “DIE." After this incident, police said the victims installed a Ring camera above their garage door.
The following day, around 7:45 p.m., documents say that same Honda CRV drove into the victims' driveway and pulled up behind their friend’s grey Tesla that was parked in front of the garage.
A victim told police that Nadolski never got out of the Honda CRV and eventually backed out of the driveway.
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Later that night, documents say the victims woke up because they heard a car alarm going off. One of the victims pulled up the Ring camera above the garage and saw their 2023 red Tesla X was on fire. The other victim called 911.
Police said one of the victims was able to give video to officers from their friend's Tesla and the Ring camera mounted above the garage.
Court documents say the Ring camera above the garage showed Nadolski walk towards the white and red Teslas parked in the driveway. He first tried to unplug the 2015 white Tesla S. Unable to do so, he kicked at the charger a few times. Still unsuccessful, Nadolski hit the back window of the Tesla and ended up breaking it. He then walked over to the red Tesla and hit the driver's side a few times.
Documents say he walked back to his Honda CRV and retrieved and object from inside his vehicle. He walked back towards the two Teslas and flipped off the Ring camera.
Authorities said Nadolski made his way back over to the red Tesla, where he broke the back and front window and walked back to his vehicle, driving it into the garage doors of the home.
According to court documents, Nadolski left the home only to come back 10 minutes later with a five-gallon gas can.
Documents say Nadolski walked over to the red Tesla again and broke the back window, pouring the contents from the gas can into the Tesla. Police said he walked back over to his vehicle to grab an item and then came back and lit an object on fire and tossed it in the back window — causing a "large ball of fire."
Court documents say Nadolski picked up his gas can, went back to his vehicle and drove away, only to return again 15 minutes later.
Around 3:15 a.m., police said Nadolski pulled back into the driveway and walked toward the garage where he flipped off the Ring camera again and finally left.
After investigating and reviewing all of the evidence, IMPD was able to confirm that the man in the Ring video was indeed Nadolski.
Here's a list of all of the damages:
- The fire to the 2023 red Tesla X caused an estimated damage of $90,000.
- The white 2015 Tesla S has an estimated damage of $20,000.
- The three garage doors have an estimated damage of $25,000.
- The Tesla charging station has an estimated damage of $500.
Nadolski has been charged with arson damage, two counts of criminal mischief damage and criminal mischief. According to online court records, as of Aug. 8, there was an active warrant out for his arrest.
