(David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Not everyone is a fan of driverless cars: A 36-year-old San Francisco resident allegedly tried to slash the tires on Waymo's autonomous vehicles 17 times last month.
The suspect, Ronaile Joshua Burton, was arrested and charged with 17 counts of vandalism, according to the San Francisco district attorney's office.
City prosecutors allege that Burton went on the vandalism spree between June 24-26, approaching Waymo vehicles 17 times while brandishing a knife. Burton may have been unaware that Waymo vehicles are outfitted with cameras and sensors, which can give each car a 360-degree view. “Each incident was captured on cameras installed in the Waymo vehicles,” the DA's office says.
Burton has allegedly targeted Waymo vehicles before, slashing the tires of a “three-car caravan of Waymo vehicles,” city prosecutors said. Vehicle cameras captured that incident, too.
Although Burton’s motive remains unclear, some San Francisco residents and city agencies oppose having the robotaxis on the road since they can glitch, cause traffic jams, and prevent emergency vehicles from getting through. They've also had run-ins with pedestrians and pets.
Others have tried to destroy the AI-driven vehicles. In February, a Waymo car was set on fire after it drove into a packed street during Chinatown’s Lunar New Year celebration. Officials later charged a 14-year-old with arson.
Waymo says Burton tried to vandalize the cars while human passengers were inside. “Waymo is also taking steps to recover the damages sustained and mitigate the potential for future events,” the company told NBC News. Prosecutors say the damage is "more than $400."
In the meantime, Burton remains in custody pending trial due to the "public safety risk."