Baltimore authorities have arrested a high school athletic director accused of using artificial intelligence to create a fabricated audio recording that contained racist remarks falsely attributed to the school’s principal. The incident sparked a three-month investigation and led to the principal’s temporary removal from his position.
Dazhon Darien, 31, the athletic director at Pikesville High School, was taken into custody on Thursday as he attempted to board a flight to Houston at Thurgood Marshall Airport. He faces multiple charges, including disrupting a school operation and stalking.
According to Baltimore Police Chief Robert McCollough, the probe concluded that Darien allegedly “made the recording to retaliate against the principal who had launched an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds.”
The controversy began on January 16 when an audio clip purportedly featuring Principal Eric Eisworth making racist comments about Black and Jewish individuals, as well as disparaging remarks about two teachers, circulated among staff and on social media.
“It not only led to Eisworth’s temporary removal but also triggered a wave of hate-filled messages on social media and numerous calls to the school,” the charging document stated, underscoring the profound impact of the incident.
As the school district initiated an investigation, Eisworth maintained that the conversation had never occurred and suggested that Darien, known for his technological proficiency, may have been involved. Eisworth had previously ordered an inquiry into allegations of misuse of school funds by Darien in December.
Forensic analysts specializing in AI determined that the recording exhibited elements of AI-generated content. Detectives allege that Darien utilized AI language models, such as OpenAI and Bing Chat, to create the fabricated audio, with the charging document citing his paid OpenAI account, which offers advanced features.
The investigation revealed that one of the three teachers who initially received the audio from an anonymous email forwarded it to a student, anticipating its rapid dissemination on social media. The same teacher also shared the audio with media outlets and organizations like the NAACP, initially withholding information about Darien’s involvement.
Darien was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond on Thursday afternoon. Baltimore County School Superintendent Myriam Rogers stated that the administrative process to discipline Darien has commenced, potentially leading to his termination. Rogers also indicated that the school is investigating the other teachers involved in spreading the audio.
Interim leaders will oversee Pikesville High School for the remainder of the academic year as the investigation continues. Rogers expressed gratitude for the investigation’s progress, stating, “We are grateful we can bring some sense closure to the community and we can now shift our focus to moving forward and providing all parties with a fresh start.”