Roommates, you have no idea how wild school security has become in Baltimore. Taki Allena 16-year-old football player found himself face down on the ground, surrounded by armed police… all because an AI system thought his snack was a weapon.
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AI Panic turns Taki Allen’s Doritos into drama
According to Taki, on Monday, October 20, he was finishing a bag of Doritos after soccer practice and put the empty package in his pocket. About 20 minutes later, eight police cars arrived, officers jumped out with their weapons drawn and Taki was ordered to the ground. “He told me to get on my knees, arrested me and handcuffed me” he told local media. Fortunately, Baltimore County police confirmed that he had not been officially arrested and the situation was quickly resolved. But not before leaving the teenager shaken.
The TL weighs
As soon as the story broke, Shade Room’s Instagram comments section exploded. Some users were left shaken, warning that such AI errors would only get worse. And others couldn’t believe a bag of chips sparked such a reaction. Meanwhile, many stepped in with a harsher reality check, pointing out that if Taki had been a different race, the situation could have escalated even faster.
An Instagram user @Shredchaser said:Not AI with built-in racism 😂”
This Instagram user @Londonsemaj shared: “Best trial ever! Easy money“
And, Instagram user @d.nice_therealest added: “& this is what’s supposed to take over our jobs?😂😂😂 yeah ok“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @abattoirscorpio wrote: “I defended the technology and made no apologies to the injured party… yeah, these people are hell“
While Instagram user @elli.hustleman said: “Let’s go back with a different complexion, I bet they would have seen the bag of chips 🤣🤣🤣”
Finally, Instagram user @Justdth added: “So every time they detect a gun, they’re going to point their guns in a child’s face??? What is happening? 🙄”
AI alert triggers chaos at Snackgate
The incident sparked questions about the use of AI in schools. It’s worth noting that Baltimore County schools began using AI “to detect potential weapons” last year, according to The Guardian. In this case, Baltimore County officials explained that the system correctly flagged a potential threat, but human reviewers eliminated it. However, the school principal did not receive the alert and still forwarded it to the police. Omnilert, the AI provider, insisted on its system “operated as intended“, emphasizing early threat detection. But local politicians and the teen himself are calling for a review of protocols. Additionally, Taki now says he waits inside after soccer practice, wary of even holding a snack, proving that sometimes the “safety” of technology comes with a heavy dose of chaos.
“I don’t think a bag of chips should be confused with a gun,” Taki said. “Now I don’t even go out after practice. I just stay inside until my ride arrives – I don’t feel safe.”
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