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Dominica Bernstein, 651.297.8150
Dominica.Bernstein@house.mn.gov
News Release
Rep. Paul Novotny Condemns Hennepin County Attorney's Decision Not to Prosecute Tesla Vandalism Suspect ST. PAUL, MN — Following recent reports that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office will not criminally charge the individual caught on camera keying multiple Teslas in downtown Minneapolis, House Public Safety Committee Chair Representative Paul Novotny (R–Elk River) is calling out the decision and demanding accountability. "This isn’t a case of civil disobedience. This is a felony. It’s thousands of dollars in damage, and we have clear evidence. If this doesn’t warrant prosecution, what does?" said Rep. Novotny. "The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is failing to uphold their oath to seek justice and protect the public."
Surveillance footage shows a man using keys to scratch several Tesla vehicles, causing an estimated $20,000 in damages. Despite that, the County Attorney’s Office opted not to press charges, citing a desire to focus on more “serious” crimes and instead offered a diversion program. "Our law enforcement officers did everything right—they investigated, built a case, and handed it over. And the response from the prosecutor’s office was essentially, ‘Never mind,’” Novotny said. “That’s a slap in the face to victims, officers, and every Minnesotan who expects the law to mean something."
As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Rep. Novotny emphasized that this decision is just one example of a larger pattern of leniency that undermines public safety and erodes trust in the justice system. “This isn’t about all county attorneys—Minnesota has 87, and the vast majority of them are doing their jobs and working in partnership with law enforcement to keep our communities safe. But one office’s refusal to prosecute clear, documented crimes sends a ripple effect that damages public trust and puts unnecessary strain on prosecutors across the state who are upholding their responsibilities with integrity.”
"We’ve been talking about accountability for criminals, but maybe it’s time we talk about accountability for prosecutors too," he added. "We’ll be taking a serious look at what statutory guardrails are—or aren’t—in place to prevent this kind of negligence from continuing. When county attorneys make it this clear that they won’t enforce the law, someone has to step in."
Rep. Novotny expressed support for legislation introduced by Representative Kristin Robbins (R–Maple Grove), House File 1188, which would authorize city attorneys to prosecute felony and certain gross misdemeanor offenses when a county attorney declines to prosecute. This bill aims to ensure that serious crimes do not go unpunished due to prosecutorial discretion. “When prosecutors refuse to do their job, they not only deny justice to victims—they undermine the entire legal system,” Novotny said. “House File 1188 gives us a clear path forward. By empowering city attorneys to prosecute when county attorneys won’t, we’re putting public safety back on the table and making it clear: lawlessness won’t be tolerated in Minnesota.”
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