Photo via Tesla of the Gigafactory
Photo via Tesla of the Gigafactory

Getting the latest news on what Tesla is doing is always a hot scoop, but two reporters zeal for investigating the company resulted in a nasty confrontation and felony charges.

Tesla put out a release stating that two journalists not only trespassed on company grounds at the Gigafactory, the battery plant still under construction in Nevada, but assaulted Tesla employees, too.

It happened last Friday around noon. The Tesla account below, per the company’s statement:

“After locating the two trespassers, the Tesla employee approached them. He asked their names and notified them that they were trespassing on Tesla property. They refused to provide their names, despite the Reno Gazette Journal (‘RGJ‘) ID credentials hanging from their pockets. They also denied that they were trespassing even though they had climbed through a fence designated with ‘private property’ signs.”

Photo via Tesla/Map of Gigafactory
Photo via Tesla/Map of Gigafactory

According to the Tesla account, that employee and a second safety manager then escorted the two reporters back to their Jeep and asked them to wait as more Tesla security and local police were en route.

Reportedly, the RGJ employees did not want to wait around for the cops.

“Disregarding this request, the RGJ employees entered the Jeep. As the Tesla employee attempted to record the license plate number on the rear bumper, the driver put it in reverse and accelerated into the Tesla employee, knocking him over, causing him to sustain a blow to the left hip, an approximate 2” bleeding laceration to his right forearm, a 3” bleeding laceration to his upper arm, and scrapes on both palms.”

The RGJ reported its version of events, stating that only one photographer, Andy Barron, was arrested from the altercation. Barron has worked for the RGJ since 1998, the newspaper states.

RGJ‘s publisher John Maher said in the article, “We take this situation very seriously and it is under investigation at this time.”

Photo via Tesla/Gigafactory construction Nov. 4, 2014
Photo via Tesla/Gigafactory construction Nov. 4, 2014

The RGJ added that it has been covering the construction of the Gigafactory since May 2014. Local police said they were not aware if the security guards were contract employees or Tesla employees.

The RGJ‘s account also has the sheriff talking about damage to the Jeep — a rock shattered the driver’s side window and the driver’s-side seat belt had been cut in half. There is no more information as to how that damage occurred.

The Tesla statement says that Barron will be charged with two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon, and both reporters will be charged with trespassing.

Apparently, this is quite the problem out there. Tesla ended the statement with the warning, “the repeated acts of trespassing, including by those working for the RGJ, is illegal, dangerous and needs to stop. In particular, we will not stand for assaults on our employees and are working with law enforcement to investigate this incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.”

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.