Detroit Police Department Faces Lawsuit From Michigan Woman Over Unfounded Arrest and Defective Facial Recognition Technology
Lawsuit Alleges Faulty Facial Recognition Technology Led to False Arrest
In an alarming turn of events, a Michigan woman, LaDonna Crutchfield, has sued the Detroit Police Department, accusing officers of employing defective facial recognition technology to misidentify her as a suspect in an attempted murder case.
On January 24, 2024, a group of officers barged into Crutchfield's home, handcuffing her in the presence of her children. The plaintiff claims she was identified as a suspect by an unspecified facial recognition database, despite the absence of any investigation into her possible involvement.
The lawsuit also leveled accusations against the Detroit Police Department, arguing that their facial recognition systems could be susceptible to racial bias.
Crutchfield's advocates argue that a simple exercise of common sense on the part of the investigators could have averted this unfortunate incident. Evidently, the department already knew the identity of a suspect, and a cursory comparison of Crutchfield's physical attributes with the alleged shooter would have revealed their incongruity.
Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald of the Detroit Police Department admitted that a mistake was made, yet maintained that facial recognition technology was not used to identify Crutchfield. However, several sources suggest that the department may have relied on a partial license plate to link Crutchfield to the crime, due to insufficient investigation.
Crutchfield, a 37-year-old mother of three, finds herself seeking $10 million in damages, claiming that the traumatic experience has left a lasting impact on her life. Her daughter consistently fears police knocking on their door, evoking memories of the ordeal that took place in their home.
Despite the ongoing litigation, Fitzgerald has disclosed that facial recognition technology was not used in Crutchfield's case. Nevertheless, the incident has shone a light on broader concerns about the potential misuse of facial recognition technology, particularly in regard to its reported inaccuracies when targeting individuals with darker skin tones.
Sources
- Detroit police falsely arrested woman after faulty facial recognition hit, lawsuit says
- Detroit woman suing police, claiming faulty facial recognition technology led to unjust arrest
- Michigan Woman Sues Detroit Police Over wrong facial recognition arrest
- Racial Bias in Facial Recognition: A Growing Concern
The lawsuit against the Detroit Police Department, sparked by the false arrest of LaDonna Crutchfield, also questions the reliability of their general-news sources, including facial recognition technology in crime-and-justice investigations, given the system's potential racial biases. The plaintiff's legal team demands increased transparency in the department's use of technology to avoid such unjust incidents in the future.
