String of Waymo vandalism incidents in SF leads to charges against 45-year-old man

Walker Reed Quinn, 45, has been charged with multiple counts of vandalism targeting Waymo autonomous vehicles in San Francisco since July. The charges include three counts of vandalism causing more than $400 in damages and one count causing less than $400. Prosecutors allege he committed these acts while on bail for previous offenses, highlighting a pattern of behavior that raises public safety concerns. The first incident occurred on July 4, when Quinn allegedly jumped onto a Waymo vehicle's hood and placed a cone on it. He reportedly damaged tires and a mirror of another Waymo vehicle on July 29, followed by a more serious incident where he stomped on a windshield, caving it in.

Authorities are pushing for his detention pending trial due to the risk he poses to public safety. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office is actively pursuing these charges to address the ongoing vandalism issues affecting autonomous vehicles. This case underscores the challenges faced by companies like Waymo in protecting their technology and vehicles from vandalism.