The athletic director of Pikesville High School in Maryland, Dazhon Darien, was arrested on Thursday morning in connection with the creation of a fake, racist conversation using artificial intelligence. Darien, 31, is facing charges of disrupting school activities after Baltimore County Police discovered that he had fabricated an audio recording of Principal Eric Eiswert back in January. The recording, which went viral, contained offensive statements about Black teachers, Black students’ test scores, and Jewish parents.
The release of the audio clip sparked outrage within the Baltimore County community, leading to an influx of calls to the school and necessitating increased police presence and additional counselors. Maryland Transportation Authority Police apprehended Darien at BWI Marshall Airport as he was attempting to board a plane to Houston. During a routine check of his luggage, law enforcement officers noticed irregularities in the way a gun was packaged, which prompted further investigation and the discovery of an active arrest warrant. Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough stated that the warrant was intended to be served on Thursday, but it remains unclear whether Darien was attempting to flee or had pre-existing travel plans.
In addition to the charge of disrupting school activities, Darien is also facing charges of theft, retaliating against a witness, and stalking. He was released on a $5,000 bond from the Baltimore County Detention Center. As of now, there is no attorney listed in online court records representing Darien, and he has not responded to requests for comment.
Scott Shellenberger, Baltimore County’s state’s attorney, highlighted that this is the first case his office has prosecuted involving AI and one of the first such cases in the country. He emphasized the need for state lawmakers to update criminal statutes to address the misuse of this new technology. Shellenberger expressed concern about the potential harm that can be inflicted on individuals through the abuse of AI and the need for a broader examination of its uses.
Principal Eric Eiswert, who was targeted in the fake recording, has been removed from the school and required police protection at his residence due to online threats. While Eiswert maintains his innocence through a union spokesperson, he will not be returning to Pikesville High School for the remainder of the school year, according to Superintendent Myriam Rogers.
Baltimore County Police, in a 17-page charging document, revealed that Darien created the falsified recording as retaliation for Eiswert’s investigation into alleged misuse of school funds and theft. Eiswert also believed that Darien held a grudge over his contract not being renewed and his reprimand for firing a long-term coach without approval.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the school system has recommended Darien’s termination. Two physical education teachers who were friends with Darien and received the fake recording are currently on leave and under investigation. Teachers at Pikesville High School expressed concerns about the possibility of recording devices being planted in the school, which has strained trust between teachers and administrators.
Cindy Sexton, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, voiced her organization’s concerns about the manipulation of AI and its use against educators. She emphasized the need for society to address the potential consequences of AI technology, as situations like this are likely to continue occurring.
1 Response
It is truly disheartening to hear about incidents like these involving individuals in positions of authority. The fact that the athletic director of Pikesville High School was arrested for creating a fake, racist conversation using artificial intelligence is deeply troubling. This incident highlights the potential misuse and harm that can arise from technology if it falls into the wrong hands.
As a member of the school community, the athletic director should have been a role model and advocate for inclusivity and equality. Instead, their actions perpetuated racism