Vandalism of sidewalk assessment robots in Hollister, California
Two Daxbot sidewalk assessment robots deployed in Hollister, California were vandalized within days of starting operations. Police arrested Jesus Calderon and Ryan Deanda in connection with separate incidents in which the robots were knocked over and damaged.
What happened
Two Daxbot sidewalk assessment robots began operating in Hollister, California in May 2026 to evaluate pedestrian accessibility and ADA compliance. Within days of their deployment, the robots were attacked in two separate incidents that were captured on the robots' onboard cameras.
In one incident, a person on a bicycle knocked one robot over onto its side and fled the area. In another incident, a person struck a robot and then struck a second robot that was recording the interaction, and poured what police said was beer on it before leaving.
Reported impact
The Hollister Police Department received reports of the vandalism from Daxbot within days of the robots' implementation. Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso said the incidents resulted in arrests on May 30, 2026.
Governance controls
The robots are funded through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program. The Hollister Police Department stated that the robots do not collect personal data and do not replace city jobs, and that people still guide the project, review the results, and make planning decisions.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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