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State Employee Suspended for One Day After Keying Six Teslas
The Minnesota Department of Human Services employee caused over $20,000 in damage but avoided criminal charges.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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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. 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. Despite the scale of the destruction, Hennepin County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges and instead placed Adams into a pre-charge diversion program.
Why it matters
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.
The details
Investigators said the vandalism was captured on Tesla security cameras, which helped link Adams to the damage. The Minnesota Department of Human Services conducted its own internal review and determined Adams had violated workplace conduct rules, ultimately disciplining him with a one-day unpaid suspension from his state job. Adams has reportedly agreed to pay restitution as part of the diversion program.
- The incidents occurred across Minneapolis.
The players
Dylan Bryan Adams
A Minnesota state employee working in the administration of Gov. Tim Walz who admitted to vandalizing multiple Tesla vehicles in Minneapolis, causing more than $20,000 in damage.
Tim Walz
The governor of Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Human Services
The state agency that employed Dylan Bryan Adams and conducted an internal review, suspending him for one day.
Hennepin County prosecutors
The prosecutors who declined to file criminal charges against Dylan Bryan Adams and instead placed him into a pre-charge diversion program.
Tesla
The electric vehicle company whose vehicles were vandalized by Dylan Bryan Adams.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Dylan Bryan Adams to continue in the pre-charge diversion program.
The takeaway
This case highlights the debate around the appropriate consequences for government employees who commit crimes, as well as the use of diversion programs for first-time offenders in property damage cases.
