Tupelo man charged with felony vandalism

Authorities say Walker Reed Quinn has a history of targeting Waymo self-driving vehicles.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:46am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a shattered car sensor lens reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the vandalism of self-driving cars.As tensions over autonomous vehicles escalate, a recent wave of targeted street vandalism exposes pent-up frustration with driverless technology in Tupelo.Tupelo Today

A 45-year-old Tupelo man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of felony vandalism for allegedly damaging Waymo autonomous vehicles in a string of incidents since July 2025. Police say Walker Reed Quinn has a history of targeting the self-driving cars, with three separate incidents involving removing sensors, slashing tires, and stomping on windshields.

Why it matters

Waymo has faced some resident backlash and instances of vandalism as one of the most visible self-driving taxi companies operating in the Tupelo area. This case highlights growing concerns about public safety and property crime involving emerging autonomous vehicle technology.

The details

According to police reports, in three separate incidents since July 2025, Walker Reed Quinn has been accused of vandalizing Waymo vehicles by removing and swinging his belt, placing a cone on the dome and sensors of the car, damaging the tires and driver's side mirror, and stomping on the windshield while someone was inside the vehicle.

  • On July 4, 2025, Quinn allegedly dove onto the hood of a Waymo vehicle and covered sensors.
  • On July 29, 2025, Quinn allegedly damaged a Waymo's tires and driver's side mirror.
  • On August 11, 2025, Quinn allegedly stomped on a windshield while someone was inside.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old Tupelo resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in Tupelo.”

— Robert Jenkins, Tupelo resident

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on Tupelo streets, and if any special laws are needed to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.