Rahway Auto Mechanic Faces Charges for Repeated Waymo Vandalism

Authorities have arrested a 45-year-old man for multiple incidents of damaging self-driving vehicles in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:43pm

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An abstract, blurred image of a Waymo autonomous vehicle captured in motion, with vibrant streaks of color representing the chaos and damage caused by the vandalism incidents.As tensions over autonomous vehicles escalate, a recent wave of targeted street vandalism exposes pent-up frustration with driverless technology.Rahway Today

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident, Walker Reed Quinn, has been arrested and charged for a string of alleged attacks on Waymo autonomous vehicles in the city's SoMa neighborhood since July. Police say Quinn has been damaging the cars by removing and swinging his belt, placing cones on the sensors, slashing tires, and stomping on windshields, raising concerns about public safety and the perpetrator's mental health.

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 San Francisco. The SoMa neighborhood has historically had high rates of property crime, although incidents have declined in recent years. This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail and the challenges of governing autonomous vehicles in urban areas.

The details

In three separate incidents, police said Walker Reed Quinn has been damaging Waymo vehicles since July 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.

  • On July 4, Quinn allegedly dove onto the hood of a Waymo vehicle and covered sensors.
  • On July 29, Quinn allegedly damaged a Waymo's tires and driver's side mirror.
  • On August 11, 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 San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

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What they’re saying

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

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco 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 SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.