Student handcuffed after Doritos bag mistaken for a gun by Maryland school’s AI security system

CNN Armed police handcuffed and searched a pupil at a high school in Baltimore County Maryland this week after an AI-driven precaution system flagged the teen s empty bag of chips as a feasible firearm Baltimore County officers are now calling for a review of how Kenwood High School uses the AI gun detection system and why the teen ended up in handcuffs despite school safety representatives hurriedly determining there was no weapon They made me get on my knees put my hands behind my back and cuffed me Kenwood pupil Taki Allen recounted CNN affiliate WBAL describing what happened Monday evening when police arrived at the school while he was waiting with friends for a ride home after football practice They searched me and they figured out I had nothing Then they went over to where I was standing and revealed a bag of chips on the floor Allen mentioned He described a distressing scene with a heavy police response The first thing I was wondering was was I about to die Because they had a gun pointed at me Allen stated WBAL saying about eight cop cars pulled up to the school I was just holding a Doritos bag it was two hands and one finger out and they stated it looked like a gun Allen reported WBAL The AI-powered prevention system at the school is just one example of how schools are approaching safety in the age of mass gun violence AI tools have exploded in popularity in contemporary years including tools to help monitor surveillance footage CNN reached out to the Baltimore County Police Department for comment The department narrated WBAL officers responded to a description of a suspicious person with a weapon but determined the person was unarmed after a search Kenwood Principal Kate Smith declared the school district s guard department reviewed and canceled the gun detection alert after confirming there was no weapon according to a report sent to parents that was shared with CNN Smith noted she stated the matter to Kenwood s school pool officer who called local police for sponsorship The principal didn t straightaway realize the alert had been canceled a spokesperson for Baltimore County Constituents Schools notified WBAL We understand how upsetting this was for the individual that was searched as well as the other students who witnessed the circumstance Smith stated in the report Please know that ensuring the safety of our students and school society is one of our highest priorities Omnilert the company that operates the AI gun detection system expressed regret over the episode and emphasized that its system is designed to identify a realizable threat and elevate it to human review We regret that this circumstance occurred and wish to convey our concern to the trainee and the wider region affected by the events that followed the company advised CNN While the object was later determined not to be a firearm the process functioned as intended to prioritize safety and awareness through rapid human verification the company added The AI gun detection system has been used in Baltimore County constituents schools since analyzing video from the schools existing assurance cameras Superintendent Myriam Rogers mentioned during a news conference Wednesday Rogers called Monday s situation truly unfortunate and explained the district never wants to put any of its students in such a frightening situation The heavy-handed response to the false alarm has sparked outrage in the society with Allen s grandfather Lamont Davis demanding accountability Something has got to be done he stated to WBAL Changes have to be made and people have to be held accountable Baltimore County authorities say they want a review of the process that led to Monday s police response No child in our school system should be accosted by police for eating a bag of Doritos Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka commented in a announcement on social media calling on the school district to review procedures around its AI-powered weapon detection system Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones also called for a review of the use of the AI system to make sure there are safeguards in place so this type of error does not happen again according to WBAL Superintendent Rogers disclosed reviewing the system and prevention practices in Baltimore County schools is part of our regular practice The-CNN-Wire Cable News Arrangement Inc a Warner Bros Discovery Company All rights reserved Source