BALTIMORE — A former Houston ISD teacher was arrested in Baltimore in a bizarre case. He is accused of retaliating against his school's principal using artificial intelligence.
Dazhon Darien, the athletic director at a Baltimore County school, forged an audio clip in which it sounded as if the principal was frustrated with Black students and their test-taking abilities, police wrote in charging documents. They said the recording also purported to capture the principal disparaging Jewish individuals and two teachers.
The clip was widely shared earlier this year and the principal was removed from the school, but investigators said on Thursday that Darien created the clip to frame the principal, who was investigating Darien for allegedly misappropriating school funds.
“We are grateful that we can bring some sense of closure to the community and that we can now shift our focus to moving forward and providing all parties with a fresh start," said Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers.
Investigators said Darien was arrested at the airport Thursday while trying to board a flight to Houston. He faces several charges. As for the principal, school officials plan to talk to him to see if he'll return next school year.
Authorities said the case appears to be among the first of its kind in the country and called for new laws to guard against the technology. Experts also warned that artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly powerful, while the ability to detect it may lag without more resources.