Jason Killinger is suing the city of Reno after being wrongfully arrested when AI facial recognition misidentified him at the Peppermill Casino.
In September 2023, Killinger, a truck driver, was detained after the casino’s facial recognition system flagged him as a banned individual, claiming a “100% match.” He was arrested despite insisting the system had confused him with someone else.
Bodycam footage later showed him protesting his innocence as he was mistakenly identified as another person. He spent around 11 hours in custody, including several hours in handcuffs, before the error was acknowledged.
While the casino has already settled its part of the case, Killinger is continuing legal action against the city, arguing that poor training in the use of facial recognition technology has led to wrongful arrests. His lawsuit seeks damages and raises broader concerns about the risks of relying on AI in law enforcement.