BROOKLINE— A sensational case involving a local man accused of tagging Tesla vehicles with Elon Musk stickers has taken a surprising turn, as the charges against him have now been dropped.

Harrison Grant Randall, 39, faced six counts of defacing property earlier this year after Brookline Police released footage of a suspect on a bicycle that the public helped identify. Randall allegedly claimed he was exercising his right to free speech, stating, “It’s my free speech,” when confronted about the stickers.

In a twist of legal fate, a Brookline judge dismissed the charges this week after Randall's defense attorney argued that the prosecution failed to prove he acted with malice. The Norfolk DA’s office opposed the motion, but Judge Debra Shopteese ruled in favor of the defendant, citing a lack of evidence that Randall intended to harm the property owners or acted out of hostility.

Adding to the bizarre backdrop of this case, recent months have seen a surge of vandalism targeting Teslas across the country, including a shocking incident in Colorado where Molotov cocktails were thrown at vehicles. This chaotic atmosphere around Tesla dealerships raises questions about the motivations behind such acts of defacement, but Randall’s case took a unique trajectory, one that concluded with no legal consequences for the Boston man.

Reports indicate that this dismissal may set a troubling precedent, where graffiti and vandalism might be dismissed under the guise of free speech. As the dust settles, it seems Randall's bizarre stunt has landed him back on the streets without a scratch, while the law struggles to define the line between expression and vandalism.