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Ohio Deli Workers Charged After AI-Generated Photo Triggers Police Robbery Response

One suspect is jailed, with warrants issued for another, a case police cite in warning that AI hoaxes are crimes.

Overview

  • Elyria police dispatched all available officers and detectives to Rubin’s Deli after the owner reported an active robbery based on an image.
  • Responding units arrived within minutes, secured the building, and determined no crime was occurring.
  • Investigators say an employee created the image using ChatGPT to depict masked suspects in a multi-camera security view, which was later uploaded to the evidence system.
  • Todd Durst, 45, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Lorain County Jail on swatting and obstructing official business charges, both fourth-degree felonies, plus inducing panic, a first-degree misdemeanor.
  • Luis Acevedo Jr., 40, left before officers arrived; his vehicle was found at the restaurant, warrants have been issued, and the search continues.