In Baltimore County, Maryland, a high school student was handcuffed and searched by armed police after an AI-driven security system mistakenly identified his Doritos bag as a firearm. The incident occurred at Kenwood High School, where Taki Allen, the student involved, was waiting with friends after football practice. The AI system, used since 2023, flagged the bag, prompting a police response.
Allen described the distressing encounter, stating, “They made me get on my knees, put my hands behind my back, and cuffed me.” Despite school safety officials quickly determining there was no weapon, the police had already arrived, leading to Allen being handcuffed. Baltimore County officials are now calling for a review of the AI system’s use and the procedures that led to the police response.
Kenwood Principal Kate Smith acknowledged the incident, stating that the school district’s security department had reviewed and canceled the gun detection alert. However, the alert had already reached local police. Omnilert, the company behind the AI system, expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing that the system is designed to identify potential threats for human review.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with Allen’s grandfather, Lamont Davis, demanding accountability. Baltimore County Council members Izzy Patoka and Julian Jones have called for a review of the AI system to prevent future errors. Superintendent Myriam Rogers stated that reviewing security practices is part of their regular process.
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