Ex-athletic director accused of framing principal with AI arrested at airport with gun

[yuna628 9,671]

Wild story but basically a local Maryland principle was accused of making offensive comments in a recording. What followed was an investigation, harassment, death threats, media circus, and anger from community members that accused the principle and staff of bias without allowing the investigation to conclude. Parents and students were rightfully very distressed that they were being spoken about in this manner, and so distrust was rampant. Eventually they discovered the recording was AI and not actually of the principle. He'd been framed. Yesterday the real culprit was arrested at the airport with a gun.

 

The ex-athletic director was being investigated by the principle for theft, fraud, behavior towards students, and other issues. And from there the story gets crazy..

 

Quote

Baltimore County Police arrested Pikesville High School’s former athletic director Thursday morning and charged him with crimes related to the alleged use of artificial intelligence to impersonate Principal Eric Eiswert, leading the public to believe Eiswert made racist and antisemitic comments behind closed doors.

Dazhon Darien, 31, was apprehended as he attempted to board a flight to Houston at BWI Airport, Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. Darien was stopped for having a gun on him and airport officials saw there was a warrant for his arrest. Police said they did not know whether Darien was trying to flee.

Darien was charged with disrupting school activities after investigators determined he faked Eiswert’s voice and circulated the audio on social media in January, according to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office. Darien’s nickname, DJ, was among the names mentioned in the audio clips authorities say he faked.

“The audio clip ... had profound repercussions,” police wrote in charging documents. “It not only led to Eiswert’s temporary removal from the school but also triggered a wave of hate-filled messages on social media and numerous calls to the school. The recording also caused significant disruptions for the PHS staff and students.”

Police say Darien made the recording in retaliation after Eiswert initiated an investigation into improper payments he made to a school athletics coach who was also his roommate. Darien is also charged with theft and retaliating against a witness.

Darien was allowed release on $5,000 bond and waived an attorney at an initial court appearance, according to court records. Attempts to reach him by phone and at his home were unsuccessful.

Eiswert’s voice, which police and AI experts believe was simulated, made disparaging comments about Black students and the surrounding Jewish community and was widely circulated on social media. https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/eric-eiswert-ai-audio-baltimore-county-YBJNJAS6OZEE5OQVF5LFOFYN6M/

 

Some students are very relieved that the real culprit has been arrested as the ex-director made many of them uncomfortable. Others are glad the principle did not actually make the comments but feel his behavior towards students has also not been the best. Still other students questioned the motives of a PE teacher's behavior regarding the case. https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/dazhon-darien-eric-eiswert-ai-deepfake-ZUGJ3GBW45CRTFM5HEP7AASLIE/

[Dashinka 24,479]

Only going to get worse.  Any punishment needs to be public as the general public has lost sight of accountability.

Edited April 26 by Dashinka

[TBoneTX 45,250]

Standards need to be developed in a hurry in regard to AI-related offenses.  If current criminal codes aren't sufficient or up-to-date, state legislatures and the courts should act promptly.