(AsiaGameHub) – At the close of January, we covered a highly unusual instance of wrongful arrest at a casino in Reno in 2023. In this case, law enforcement relied excessively on facial recognition technology.
A “100% Match” Resulted in a Catastrophe
Three years prior, in September, truck driver Jason Killinger was identified by a system at Peppermill Casino as a “100% match” to another individual, Michael Ellis, who had previously been prohibited from the premises.
Despite the match proving to be incorrect, Killinger was nevertheless taken into custody by security and subsequently arrested.
According to a lawsuit, the man was held for 11 hours, which included four hours in handcuffs, leading to bruises and shoulder pain. When he attempted to verify his identity, the arresting officer, Richard Jager, reportedly declined to accept the proof and accused him of presenting a counterfeit ID.
The situation worsened when, even after a fingerprint check at the Washoe County jail confirmed Killinger’s identity, the lawsuit asserts that the officer submitted a report claiming Killinger had provided inconsistent identification.
In 2017, the US Department of Justice issued a policy guideline for law enforcement agencies, characterizing facial recognition matches as “advisory in nature” and stating they do not “establish probable cause.”
City of Reno Added as a Defendant in the Expanded Lawsuit
The case has since broadened, with a federal judge permitting the City of Reno to be included as a defendant. This decision was based on allegations that officials continued legal proceedings even after Killinger had been exonerated.
The lawsuit also contends that the police department failed to adequately train its officers on the limitations of facial recognition systems.
Killinger’s legal team argues that the issue extends beyond an isolated error, asserting that law enforcement was aware that facial recognition results should not be the sole basis for arrests but persisted in relying on them.
“Jager’s conduct was not an isolated incident involving the wrongful actions of a single employee, but rather the outcome of a widespread custom and practice involving hundreds of municipal employees making thousands of arrests in a similar manner over several years,” the lawsuit states.
The filing further alleges that crucial evidence, such as fingerprint results that cleared Killinger, was omitted from official reports.
According to the claim, this resulted in a distorted account of the events. Killinger is seeking compensation, although the specific amount has not been revealed. He had previously reached a settlement with the casino in a separate case before it went to trial.
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