“Robert Williams was wrongfully arrested and jailed after being mistakenly identified as a suspect in a theft investigation. He is now suing the Detroit Police Department. Provided by ACLU of Michigan.”
Jul 1, 2024 Story by: Editor
The city of Detroit has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by Robert Williams, a Black man wrongfully arrested for shoplifting, which also mandates changes in how the police department employs facial recognition technology.
In 2020, Detroit police officers arrested Williams at his Farmington Hills residence, wrongly accusing him of stealing watches from a Shinola store in Midtown Detroit back in 2018. The arrest was prompted by Williams’ driver’s license photo being flagged as a potential match to the suspect seen in the store’s security footage. A loss-prevention worker then identified Williams based on this facial recognition match, leading to his arrest in front of his wife and children.
“The Detroit Police Department’s misuse of facial recognition technology turned my life upside down,” stated Williams in a release from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “My family had to witness my wrongful arrest, missing significant moments in our lives. Even today, the memories bring tears to my loved ones.”
As part of the settlement, Detroit police are prohibited from making arrests solely based on facial recognition technology results or using photo lineups derived from facial recognition searches, according to the ACLU. The agreement also mandates comprehensive police training on the risks associated with facial recognition technology.
Furthermore, all cases since 2017 involving facial recognition technology in obtaining arrest warrants will be reviewed under the terms of the settlement.
Last year, Detroit Police Chief James White announced revised policies for facial recognition technology usage following another wrongful arrest case involving Porcha Woodruff, who was pregnant at the time. Woodruff had been mistakenly arrested in connection with a robbery and carjacking case.
Chief White criticized the handling of Woodruff’s case, emphasizing the need for additional evidence beyond facial recognition technology to substantiate arrests.
In response to Chief White’s remarks, Woodruff commented, “Mistakes have consequences, as evidenced in my case. I spent time in jail for something I didn’t do.”
This settlement marks a significant step towards addressing the misuse of facial recognition technology in law enforcement, aiming to prevent future wrongful arrests and ensuring accountability within the Detroit Police Department. Source: CBS News
