The vehicle approached an ongoing felony arrest as police waved it away.
WASHINGTON — A driverless Waymo taxi briefly interrupted a police standoff in a strange and tense moment caught on video. The incident took place in downtown Los Angeles early Sunday, according to the LAPD.
The vehicle was seen turning just a few feet from a stolen-vehicle suspect who was lying face down on the pavement and surrounded by officers with weapons drawn. The robotaxi drove past several patrol cars with flashing lights, appearing to slow down, signal and turn. The move prompted police to begin directing the vehicle to leave the area.
“Go to your left! Go through!” an officer can be heard yelling in the video.
The incident happened around 3:40 a.m. near Broadway and First Street, outside Times Mirror Square and the federal courthouse. LAPD told ABC News that officers were conducting a “high-risk felony arrest” following a pursuit of a stolen vehicle.
Waymo said the vehicle was near the stop for no more than 15 seconds.
“Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets,” a Waymo spokesperson told ABC News. “When we encounter unusual events like this one, we learn from them as we continue improving road safety and operating in dynamic cities.”
The LAPD also confirmed to NBC News that officers had not yet blocked traffic when the Waymo vehicle approached, but did so immediately afterward. The department also noted that its Traffic Coordination Division regularly communicates with Waymo through a 24/7 hotline as driverless technology expands on city streets.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, is an autonomous driving company that launched a driverless taxi service in Los Angeles early last year. Rides to the general public in November 2024, and the company has since expanded to offering service in additional cities, including Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta.