A Castro Valley resident faces charges for allegedly slashing the tires of 17 Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco, according to the city's district attorney.
Waymo Robotaxi Footage Capture a Man Allegedly Slashing Tires
Between June 24 and June 26, Ronaile Joshua Burton, 36, is accused of damaging the autonomous vehicles. Footage from cameras installed on the Waymo robotaxis captured the alleged incidents, which adds to the ongoing tension in the Bay Area regarding the presence of these autonomous vehicles.
The San Francisco District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins, announced the charges against Burton. He was arraigned on July 10, 2024, pleading not guilty to all charges. Burton faces 17 counts of vandalism, each involving damage exceeding $400.
Jenkins expressed gratitude towards the San Francisco Police Department for their thorough investigation. She emphasized that the destruction of property in San Francisco would not be tolerated and that individuals responsible for vandalism must face accountability for their actions.
Court records detail that Burton allegedly approached and vandalized Waymo autonomous vehicles on 17 different occasions over a three-day span. Each of these acts was captured by cameras installed on the Waymo vehicles.
Additionally, prosecutors claim that these incidents are linked to another case where Burton is accused of targeting a three-car caravan of Waymo vehicles, using a knife to puncture the tires. This separate case also involved footage from the cameras on the vehicles.
Prosecutors pushed for Burton's detention before trial due to the risk he poses to public safety. The court agreed, denying bail and keeping Burton in custody. His next court appearance is set for July 12, 2024, for a custody status hearing, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 23, 2024.
Although charges have been filed, the investigation is still active, and authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding these incidents.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has faced various challenges in integrating its self-driving cars into urban environments. The incidents involving Burton highlight some of the backlash from the community.
The presence of Waymo's robotaxis in San Francisco represents a larger push towards the future of urban mobility. The vehicles are equipped with advanced cameras and sensors designed to navigate city streets safely.
Waymo Robotaxi Gets Pulled Over by Police During Traffic
In related news, a Waymo robotaxi in Phoenix was recently pulled over by a police officer for driving towards oncoming traffic.
The situation took an unusual turn when the officer discovered that the Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicle was driverless. Body cam footage also captured the perplexing exchange between the officer and the autonomous car.
Read more about this intriguing story here.
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