Food Delivery Robot Caught in the Middle of Arizona SWAT Situation
What to Know
- A DoorDash robot named Dot entered an active Chandler police SWAT scene during an investigation.
- The robot ignored commands to turn around and continued toward the police perimeter.
- Police deployed a flash-bang device as part of their operation to manage the scene.
CHANDLER, Arizona -- A DoorDash food delivery robot entered an active Chandler Police Department SWAT scene last week, prompting officers to intervene as they investigated a possible weapons-related incident in the East Valley.
Chandler police were conducting a SWAT operation near Ray Road and Hamilton Street when the autonomous delivery robot, known as Dot, approached the area while making a scheduled food delivery, according to KPNX-TV.
Video from the scene showed the robot continuing toward the police perimeter as officers worked the incident. Police directed the robot to turn around, but it did not respond to commands and continued moving toward the restricted area.
Witnesses observed SWAT personnel deploying a flash-bang device at a residence as part of the operation. The delivery robot remained in the vicinity of the police activity before a DoorDash technician arrived and removed it from the scene in a box truck.
No injuries involving the robot were reported, and police continued their investigation into the possible weapons-related incident.