Teens Arrested After Waymo Projectile Incident

San Mateo police detained two 15-year-olds this week after Waymo reported that the teens were drinking alcohol and firing Orbeez-style projectiles from a self-driving car in San Mateo, California, authorities said. The incident happened Monday afternoon, when a Waymo representative contacted police about suspicious behavior inside one of the company’s vehicles. (ksbw.com) Officers stopped the ride after the vehicle pulled into a parking lot, and the teens were later released to their parents, according to local reports. (yahoo.com) The case has been sent to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for review. ### How did police say the ride unraveled? Police said the call came in at about 2:10 p.m. (abc7news.com) Monday after a Waymo employee monitoring the trip saw what appeared to be a black firearm inside the vehicle and believed the passengers were firing it outside the car. Community Relations Officer Janine Luna told local media that Waymo relayed those observations to the San Mateo Police Department, which responded to intercept the vehicle. San Mateo officers said the robotaxi then stopped in a parking lot, where police removed the two teens and investigated. Authorities later determined the item was an Orbeez or gel-ball-style toy gun and said the riders had been drinking while the car drove them around the city. (ksbw.com) Police did not report any injuries. ### What exactly were the teens accused of doing inside the Waymo? San Mateo police said the two riders, both age 15, were allegedly consuming alcohol and shooting water beads from the moving robotaxi. Police posted photos showing the stopped Waymo and the toy gun that investigators said was used in the incident. (yahoo.com) The department said the conduct created risks beyond a juvenile prank. In a public statement quoted by several outlets, police said toy guns, water guns and BB guns “all pose real dangers, especially to an untrained eye.” That warning came alongside the department’s note that underage drinking was also part of the case. (cbsnews.com) ### Why was Waymo able to intervene mid-ride? Waymo’s public materials say its ride-hailing service includes rider support and operates through a networked autonomous fleet, and local reporting said a company representative was watching interior camera feeds during the trip. NBC Bay Area reported that police praised Waymo for remotely halting the vehicle after employees spotted the Orbeez gun on a live camera feed. (cbsnews.com) Waymo has also been expanding teen access in at least one market. The company says teen accounts for riders ages 14 to 17 are available in Metro Phoenix with parental permission, a detail that has drawn added attention to how the company handles underage riders and in-car monitoring. Waymo’s broader public service operates in multiple cities, including the San Francisco area. (ktla.com) ### Are the teens facing charges yet? The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing whether the teens will face charges, including underage drinking, according to ABC7 and other local reports. NBC Bay Area reported that investigators are also asking prosecutors to review a possible open-container violation and are still working with Waymo to determine whether additional charges are appropriate. (waymo.com) News reports published on July 9 said video from the vehicle could be important to that decision. One report said police were still waiting for footage from Waymo before deciding whether the teens could face additional charges tied to the alleged projectile firing. (waymo.com) ### What happens next in the case? The next step is a charging decision by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, which is reviewing the police referral and any video evidence from Waymo. Police have said the teens were released to their parents after being detained, and no court date had been publicly announced in the reports available on July 9. (newsnationnow.com) (msn.com) (abc7news.com)