Adam Fetcher was fired from his City of Minneapolis communications role on July 1 after city officials say he allegedly took cash and coworkers’ payment cards and used at least one card to purchase kratom at a Minneapolis smoke shop. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has received the case and is reviewing the materials; as of reporting, no formal charges have been filed.
Adam Fetcher: what happened
City documents and news reporting say several employees reported missing cash, debit or credit cards and unauthorized charges between mid-May and June. Officials and reporting allege that at least one of the unauthorized transactions — a $481 purchase — was traced to Minneapolis Tobacco & Vapor, a shop less than a mile from where Fetcher lived.
Fetcher, 42, was employed by the city for about a year and, according to public records cited in reporting, earned $186,000 annually. City leaders terminated his employment on July 1 and told staff the communications team would continue its work while the matter was addressed. The city has not publicly released detailed personnel records beyond that notice.
How investigators linked purchases to a smoke shop
Investigators obtained surveillance footage showing a person making a purchase at Minneapolis Tobacco & Vapor that officials say matches the timeframe of an unauthorized transaction. Store employees, according to news accounts, identified the person in footage and later photographed an individual when he returned to the shop.
Store manager Hamza Zamara told reporters that staff followed the individual outside and provided law enforcement with a vehicle license plate number. Those leads, combined with surveillance video and victim reports of missing cards, are described in reporting as central to investigators’ work.
Scope of reported losses and city response
City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher circulated an internal memo after multiple staff reported missing payment methods and unauthorized charges. The memo, as described in reporting, noted the reports occurred between mid-May and June and advised staff that the city was treating the matter seriously while limiting further detail to protect an active inquiry.
The city told employees it did not believe there was an ongoing risk of theft at the time of the notice and that the Communications team had been reorganized to continue operations. Officials encouraged staff to monitor accounts and report suspicious activity through established channels.
Legal review and next steps
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office confirmed it has received the case for review, a step in which prosecutors examine evidence and victim statements to decide whether charges are warranted. News reports make clear that prosecutor review does not necessarily result in an indictment, and no charges have been publicly reported at this time.
Law enforcement sources and public reporting say investigators collected surveillance footage, witness statements and the vehicle information supplied by store staff. Prosecutors will determine whether the assembled evidence supports filing criminal charges; the timeline for that review can vary depending on the case.
Why this matters for city employees
Allegations that a coworker may have taken colleagues’ cards and used them without permission raise immediate concerns about employee safety, financial security and workplace trust. Even unproven allegations can prompt changes in office policies, reporting practices and staff communications to reduce risk.
City officials have advised employees to review account statements, report suspicious charges to financial institutions, and use internal reporting lines for personnel or security concerns. Employers faced with similar incidents often review access controls and reminders about safeguarding personal items at work.
As this matter is under prosecutorial review, all references to suspected conduct in this report are described as alleged. No formal criminal charges or convictions have been reported in connection with these allegations.
Reporting for this update is based on coverage by Fox News Digital and the Star Tribune, and on city memos and statements cited in that coverage. Store manager Hamza Zamara and the city communications memos were identified in news accounts as sources of key investigative leads.
Source reporting: Fox News Digital; additional reporting: Star Tribune.
