flippin-tings-for-newsletter-2026-03-05t191130-107
(Minneapolis, Minnesota) — A Minnesota state employee working in the administration of Gov. Tim Walz has received a one-day suspension after admitting to vandalizing multiple Tesla vehicles in Minneapolis, causing more than $20,000 in damage, according to reports.
The employee, Dylan Bryan Adams, works for the Minnesota Department of Human Services and was identified by police as the suspect in a string of incidents where six Tesla vehicles were keyed across the city. Investigators said the vandalism was captured on Tesla security cameras, which helped link Adams to the damage.
Despite the scale of the destruction, Hennepin County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges. Instead, Adams was placed into a pre-charge diversion program, a legal alternative that typically requires offenders to meet certain conditions and pay restitution to victims in order to avoid prosecution.
Separately, the Minnesota Department of Human Services conducted its own internal review and determined Adams had violated workplace conduct rules. The agency ultimately disciplined him with a one-day unpaid suspension from his state job.
The incidents caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the vehicles. Adams has reportedly agreed to pay restitution as part of the diversion program.
The case has drawn criticism from some observers who argue the consequences were too light given the amount of damage and Adams’ role as a government employee. Others say diversion programs are commonly used in property damage cases, particularly for first-time offenders.
