A physical education teacher and athletic director at Pikesville High School in Maryland, Dazhon Darien, was arrested for allegedly fabricating an audio recording that contained racist and antisemitic language attributed to principal Eric Eiswert using artificial intelligence, officials revealed on Thursday.
Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough announced that the recording, which purportedly captured Eiswert making offensive remarks, was determined to be generated through the use of AI technology and was not authentic.
Darien faces charges of disrupting school activities and other offenses related to the incident.
The Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent, Myriam Rogers, expressed empathy for the Pikesville High School community, Principal Eiswert, and his family, noting the challenging situation they have faced.
Darien was apprehended at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport while attempting to board a flight to Houston after security discovered he was carrying a gun. His arrest was prompted by an outstanding warrant in his name.
In addition to the audio fabrication, Darien has been charged with theft, retaliation against a witness, and stalking, with the investigation revealing a dispute between him and Principal Eiswert over alleged mismanagement of school funds and coaching personnel.
The incident stemmed from disagreements regarding Darien’s performance as the athletic director, with Eiswert initiating an inquiry into financial irregularities and unauthorized coaching changes made by Darien without proper approval.
Despite the audio circulating on social media, Principal Eiswert consistently denied its authenticity, and has been on administrative leave since its emergence, prompting interim district management at the school.
The school district, planning to terminate Darien’s employment, highlighted the disruptive impact of the incident on the school community and assured ongoing support for Principal Eiswert and Pikesville High School.
A forensic examination, conducted by an FBI-contracted analyst, confirmed the presence of AI-generated elements in the audio recording, shedding light on Darien’s use of school network resources before distributing the fabricated content.
Darien and his family could not be reached for immediate comment following his arrest, as the legal proceedings continue.