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San Francisco vandals destroy robotaxi, set it ablaze with fireworks on the street

Feb. 11, 2024, 3:54 p.m. ET

A driverless taxi was set ablaze by an unruly crowd amid Lunar New Year celebrations on the streets of San Francisco Saturday night.

Vandals in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood surrounded the Waymo robotaxi before breaking the window and throwing fireworks inside, according to The San Francisco Standard.

It was unclear what prompted the lawless destruction of the autonomous vehicle, which was not carrying any passengers, according to the report.

The vandalism was caught on camera, and resulted in the car erupting in fire and smoke as crowds clogged Jackson Street near Grant Street.

After several people tagged the vehicle with graffiti, a man was seen smashing the windows with a skateboard before someone threw a firework inside.

“We are working closely with local safety officials to respond to the situation,” Waymo told the newspaper.

The vehicle had “recently dropped off a rider and was navigating to its next destination when the event occurred,” the company said, adding that it would resume services Sunday as revelers in the city headed to bars and parties to watch their hometown 49ers in the Super Bowl.

The company said no injuries were reported.

Waymo operates driverless taxis in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, stating its mission is to “make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going.”

https://nypost.com/2024/02/11/news/san-francisco-vandals-destroy-robotaxi-set-it-ablaze-with-fireworks/

Minnesota mayor, son charged following drug raid

February 11, 2024

Minnesota authorities said the mayor of Winnebago and his adult son were arrested Thursday after police seized hundreds of marijuana plants at multiple homes.

The South Central Drug Investigation Unit, a multi-jurisdictional task force that operates in four southern Minnesota counties, said officers took Scott Robertson and his son Jacob Robertson into custody on charges related to marijuana cultivation.

No charges have been formally filed against Mr. Robertson or his son at this time, according to the state’s judicial database. Both men remain behind bars pending charges.

Police said they first launched an investigation into the mayor in early 2023.

Mr. Robertson won Winnebago’s mayoral race in 2021 via a write-in campaign. No other candidates filed to run for office for the city of about 1,400 people.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/feb/11/winnebago-minnesota-mayor-scott-robertson-son-jaco/

Former WWE, WrestleMania III Star Accused of Murdering His Wife, Holding a Two-Hour Standoff With Police

February 11, 2024

Billy Jack Haynes, a former WWE star, has been accused of shooting and killing his 85-year-old wife before an hours-long standoff with police.

Haynes, 70, legal name William Albert Haynes, was a fixture of the Portland wrestling scene and appeared at WrestleMania III. He is suspected of killing his “angel” wife, Janette Becraft, on the morning of February 8 at his home in the Lents neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.

Tactical teams swarmed the home after reports of a shooting, but Haynes refused to leave, leading to a two-hour standoff with police. He “eventually came out” and was taken into custody, and was later brought to a hospital for another issue. When police searched the home, they found Becraft shot dead.

No motive has been released for the killing, and formal charges have not been announced yet.

Haynes had reportedly settled down at the house after retiring from wrestling alongside Becraft, who was the mother of another pro wrestler, Tod Becraft, who fought under the name Tod Ruhl.

The two were reportedly best friends, and met as children. When Becraft’s husband Dwight passed away, she married Haynes.

An obituary for Tod Becraft, who died in 2021, reads: “Billy Jack Haynes was Tod’s best friend. They met when Tod was nine years old. After Dwight passed away, Janette and Billy Jack married. Janette named her guinea pig Lil’ Todster, after her beloved son.”

Becraft’s daughter, Kim Becraft Finlay, wrote on Facebook: “You are now flying with the Angels. They are lucky to have such a beautiful soul. Love you Mom.”

Her niece, Sue Becraft, wrote: “When a family member is murdered, as my Aunt Jan was this past Thursday morning in Portland, all that comes flooding back is the endless work her daughter did to get her away from her abuser,” wrote her niece Sue Becraft. “Hearing the pain and heartbreak in her voice as she tells me ‘He shot her this morning, she didn’t make it.’”

“She loved her mother deeply and did all she could, but services she called to help her, only failed her and Jan.”

The two were well known in the area, according to neighbor Steve Odry, who told local outlet KOIN, “He was telling me all kinds of stories about old wrestling and I told him how I used to go watch him.”

Another Neighbor, Brelynn Matthieu, called it a “tragedy,” adding, “I was pretty decently close to both of them and loved them very much. It’s a really sad day, all around.”

“(Haynes) is in police custody at a local hospital while he is being treated for a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement,” said police. “Once he is released from the hospital, which may be days from now, he is expected to be booked into jail. Haynes’ charges will be released once he is booked.”

Haynes is best known for his time in WWE between 1986 and 1988, and he was known for fighting in WrestleMania III. He retired from the ring in 1995 after fighting in New Japan Pro Wrestling and then WCW and USWA.

https://resistthemainstream.com/former-wwe-wrestlemania-iii-star-accused-of-murdering-his-wife-holding-a-two-hour-standoff-with-police/