BALTIMORE — A former high school athletic director accused of using artificial intelligence to trick a principal with racist and anti-Semitic recordings lied about his background to get the job, media partner Baltimore has learned. -This was revealed through Banner's investigation.
Dazon Darien, who was employed by Pikesville High School, faces charges including theft, stalking, obstructing school operations and retaliation against a witness.
Weeks of research and phone calls by reporters at the Baltimore Banner led to another startling discovery about Darien.
“There's bombshell after bombshell,” said Baltimore Banner education reporter Kristen Griffith.
Pikesville AI Scandal
Investigator decides Darien faked Principal Eric Eiswart's voice.The audio was then distributed on social media in January.
According to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office, Darien's nickname “DJ” was among the names listed in the audio clip that Darien allegedly forged.
Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said Thursday that Darien made the recording in retaliation for Eiswart's investigation into possible student fraud. Stated.
Eiswart's voice, which police and AI experts believed to be simulated, made derogatory comments about black students and the surrounding Jewish community. The audio was widely shared on social media.
Baltimore County police said Darien was at the airport about to board a flight to Houston at the time of his arrest. Police said the man was in possession of a gun at the time.
Baltimore County Public Schools said Darien is on administrative leave.
“That's the biggest thing for me is not knowing it was going to get us here and not knowing what it was going to do for us in the future,” Griffith said.
“Why was he hired?”
Griffith and other reporters on her team learned that Darien had allegedly lied about his work history on several job applications, including one he submitted to Baltimore County Public Schools.
“Through all of these tests, certainly, we haven't heard anyone confirm that he was working at any of these locations under this title during this period,” Griffiths said. “The closest thing we could have asked for exactly is that he was in a certain place, and in a certain place, I think he actually held that title, but for the amount of time he said he had. He wasn't there.”
Banner reporters told WJZ they found 29 false applications in four different job applications using two different names.
Griffith claimed that Darien had lied about attending the university he listed on his resume and that he did not have a teaching license.
“I know the next question is, like I said, why was he hired? There are questions that I've seen on social media,” Griffith said. “Has anyone else been able to get into Baltimore County schools this way?”
“They don't dig for free.”
Parents at Pikesville High School told WJZ they have the same questions.
“Kids hire this person because they see what they read and they don't dig for free,” parent Marcel Holmes said.
the lawyer answers
Baltimore County Public Schools told WJZ it would not be commenting further.
Mr. Darien's attorney sent WJZ the following statement: “Mr. Darien states that the information regarding the alleged misrepresentation of qualifications is inaccurate and incomplete. He intends to respond to AI's allegations in the appropriate forum. is.”