Someone appears to have had it with the Bay Area’s self-driving cars. The San Francisco Standard reports that the tires of 17 different Waymo robotaxis were slashed in the span of only a month earlier this summer. Now, police believe they have found their culprit.
Authorities recently hit Ronaile Joshua Burton, 36, with vandalism charges, claiming he is the person responsible for the recent tire massacre. Investigators say that Burton was captured on video committing the crimes via the bevy of cameras that are attached to the vehicles. Ronaile, the accused tire serial killer, has pled not guilty to the charges against him. NBC reports that it is unclear whether Burton currently has legal representation.
The District Attorney’s Office says that Burton slashed the tires between June 24 and June 26. “The destruction of other people’s property will not go unaddressed in San Francisco. People who vandalize property must be held accountable for their actions,” said DA Brooke Jenkins, in a statement.
When reached for comment, Waymo provided Gizmodo the following statement: “We can confirm that charges have been brought against the individual who aggressively vandalized a number of Waymo vehicles, some with riders present. Waymo is also taking steps to recover the damages sustained, and mitigate the potential for future events. Waymo exists to make our roads safer, and with that in mind we will always prioritize the safety of our riders and community. We appreciate the efforts of SFPD and others involved for their work in finding the perpetrator and helping to keep our community safe.”
Investigators haven’t yet said what the motive might’ve been for the crimes. That said, many San Franciscans have made it known that they hate the new automated vehicles as if they were an invasive species of locusts. Local activists have previously taken action against the cars, using traffic cones to immobilize the vehicles via their motion sensors. Last November a local legislator, citing local outrage, promised to wage “legislative guerilla warfare” against the companies behind the cars. Earlier this year, it was reported that Waymo’s cars kept glitching in a particular neighborhood, to the immense ire of locals.
