Armed Baltimore police handcuffed a high school student after an artificial intelligence (AI) system flagged the individual's bag of chips, which was inside a bag, as a firearm.
The individual was later identified as Taki Allen, who was supposedly sitting with friends on Monday night outside Kenwood High School in Baltimore. At the time, he was eating a snack when police officers with guns suddenly approached him.
Student Handcuffed Over Bag of Chips
He said that at first, he did not know where the police officers were going until they started walking toward him with guns and telling him to "get on the ground." Allen said that the law enforcement personnel ordered him to get on his knees before they handcuffed and searched him.
While the police officers did not find anything, they then showed him a copy of the picture that had triggered the AI system's alert. The student said that the image showed him simply holding a Doritos bag, according to The Guardian.
The incident comes after Baltimore County high schools started to use a gun detection system last year, using school cameras and AI to detect potential weapons. If the system spots something that it believes to be suspicious, it immediately sends an alert to the school and law enforcement officials.
The school sent a letter to families after the incident, saying, "We understand how upsetting this was for the individual that was searched as well as the other students who witnessed the incident. Our counselors will provide direct support to the students who were involved in this incident and are also available to speak with any student who may need support."
Reviewing Technology-Based Procedures
The Baltimore County Police Department said that its officers responded "appropriately and proportionally" based on the information that was provided at the time. The department argued that the AI alert was sent to human reviewers who found no threat. However, the school principal apparently missed this and still contacted the school's safety team, BBC reported.
The incident has prompted calls by members of the community for school officials to review their procedures around the use of technology. After the incident, Allen said that he finished a bag of Doritos after football practice and placed the empty packet in his pocket.
The police department said that when officers confronted Allen, he was handcuffed but not arrested. The student's grandfather, Lamont Davis, said that no one wants something like this to happen to their child, as per WBALTV.
