AI Mistake: Teen Handcuffed by Police After Gun Detection System Mistook Chips for a Weapon

16-year-old Baltimore student named Taki Allen was recently handcuffed by armed police after an Artificial Intelligence (AI) security system made a critical mistake. The AI mistakenly flagged a packet of Doritos chips in his pocket as a gun.

The Incident

After football practice, Mr. Allen put an empty bag of chips in his pocket. Just 20 minutes later, he was surrounded by eight police cars. Officers drew their guns, ordered him to the ground, and placed him in handcuffs.

The police department said their officers acted correctly based on the information they had at the time.

The police quickly confirmed there was no weapon, and Mr. Allen was released.

This event has led to strong calls for change. Local politicians are demanding that Baltimore County Public Schools review their procedures for using this AI technology.

Mr. Allen, though physically unharmed, said he no longer feels safe outside after practice. Omnilert, the AI provider, regretted the incident but insisted their system “operated as designed,” stating its goal is to prioritize safety through rapid human verification, even if the initial alert is false.