In a recent update from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, Walker Reed Quinn, 45, faces charges for his alleged role in vandalizing multiple Waymo vehicles in the SOMA district. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins's announcement indicates that Quinn will be arraigned later today at the Hall of Justice, as per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
The charges against Mr. Quinn consist of three counts of vandalism over $400 and another count under $400, with prior convictions enhancing the severity of the charges. Compounding these charges is an allegation that Quinn committed these acts while released on his recognizance or bail for other felony cases. These incidents are said to include previous damage to a Waymo vehicle.
Details of the accusations show repeated aggression against the autonomous vehicles. Court documents allege that on July 4, Quinn launched himself onto the hood of a Waymo car, obstructing its operational sensors with a traffic cone. Additional reports claim instances on July 29 where Quinn purportedly damaged various parts of Waymo vehicles, such as tires, mirrors, and sensors, in close succession. The most recent act, on Monday, involved Quinn allegedly breaking a vehicle's windshield that was carrying a passenger at the time.
Following these events, and with Quinn currently in custody, the DA's Office is seeking to hold him pending trial, citing public safety concerns. Despite charges being filed, authorities treat this as an ongoing investigation, urging the public to provide relevant information. Describing the need for community assistance, the San Francisco Police Department encourages anonymous tips via their dedicated Tip Line or text message service.
