Student Handcuffed After AI Mistakes Doritos Bag for Gun

A Baltimore County high school student was handcuffed and searched by armed police this week after an AI-powered security system mistakenly identified his Doritos bag as a gun, prompting a full police response.

The incident occurred Monday evening at Kenwood High School in Essex, Maryland, as 17-year-old student Taki Allen was waiting outside for a ride home after football practice. Police arrived after the school’s AI gun detection system flagged what it believed to be a weapon, triggering an alert to administrators and the school’s resource officer.

“They made me get on my knees, put my hands behind my back, and cuffed me,” Allen told CNN affiliate WBAL. “They searched me, and they figured out I had nothing. Then they went over to where I was standing and found a bag of chips on the floor.”

Allen described the ordeal as terrifying, saying multiple police cars surrounded the school within minutes. “The first thing I was wondering was, was I about to die? Because they had a gun pointed at me,” he said. “I was just holding a Doritos bag — it was two hands and one finger out, and they said it looked like a gun.”

How the Mistake Happened

Baltimore County Public Schools began using AI-based weapon detection systems in 2023, installing technology developed by Omnilert, a company that monitors school security camera feeds for potential firearms.

In a statement to CNN, Omnilert said its system is designed to alert human security personnel for rapid verification when a possible weapon is detected.

We regret that this incident occurred and wish to convey our concern to the student and the wider community,” the company said. “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.

However, the timeline of events suggests a breakdown in communication between school staff and law enforcement.

According to Kenwood High School Principal Kate Smith, the district’s security department reviewed and canceled the AI alert after determining there was no weapon. But Smith said she still reported the initial alert to the school’s resource officer, who then contacted local police for backup. By the time officers arrived, the false alarm had not been clearly communicated.

A spokesperson for Baltimore County Public Schools confirmed that Smith did not realize the alert had been canceled when she called for assistance.

Officials Call for Review

Superintendent Myriam Rogers addressed the incident during a Wednesday news conference, calling it “truly unfortunate.” Rogers said the district intends to review both the AI system and the protocols that govern how alerts are handled.

“No child in our school system should be accosted by police for eating a bag of Doritos,” Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka said in a statement on social media. He urged the district to “review procedures around its AI-powered weapon detection system.”

Councilman Julian Jones echoed those concerns, saying he wants to ensure that “safeguards are in place so this type of error does not happen again.”

Rogers said regular reviews of the district’s safety systems are already part of its standard practice but added that this specific case “will receive additional scrutiny.”

Community Demands Accountability

The incident has drawn anger and disbelief from parents and community members who say the AI system’s error could have had deadly consequences.

Allen’s grandfather, Lamont Davis, told WBAL he wants to see accountability from both the school and local authorities. “Something has got to be done,” Davis said. “Changes have to be made, and people have to be held accountable.”

Principal Smith acknowledged the distress caused by the event in a statement sent to parents. “We understand how upsetting this was for the individual that was searched as well as the other students who witnessed the incident,” she wrote. “Ensuring the safety of our students and school community is one of our highest priorities.”

AI in Schools Under Scrutiny

The false alarm at Kenwood High highlights growing concerns about the reliability of artificial intelligence in school safety systems. Across the United States, districts have turned to AI technology to help identify weapons, monitor entrances, and analyze camera feeds in real time.

Proponents say AI detection tools can act faster than humans and prevent potential tragedies, but critics warn that false positives — like mistaking a snack bag for a firearm — can traumatize students and escalate into dangerous encounters.

Baltimore County officials have not said whether they will suspend the use of the Omnilert system while the review takes place.

For Allen, the experience has left lasting fear and frustration. “I did nothing wrong,” he told reporters. “I just hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”