UT Police Department investigators have arrested two UT students in connection with vandalism of a campus food delivery robot.
Brock Garland, 20, and Patrick Callahan, 19, face felony charges for the incident.
About 8 p.m. on April 29, Garland retrieved food from a delivery robot owned by Starship Technology at 1840 Fraternity Park. After opening the robot, he and Callahan attempted to shove the robot’s antenna inside the top compartment. Callahan then picked up the robot and slammed it into the ground.
Garland recorded the incident on his phone and sent it to a social media account. The incident also was captured on camera. Data logs from UT OIT verified the students were in the area at the exact time of the offense.
The cost to replace the robot is $5,500.
UTPD wants to remind the Volunteer community that just like with any destructive behavior, tampering with these robots can lead to criminal charges.