Two employees at an Ohio restaurant are facing serious criminal charges after authorities say they used artificial intelligence to create a fake robbery report that triggered an emergency police response.
Officers rushed to Rubin’s Deli & Restaurant in Elyria, Ohio, on the morning of December 15 following multiple calls about an active robbery with masked suspects inside the establishment. The Elyria Police Department arrived within minutes, only to discover customers calmly dining and no criminal activity taking place.
According to police, the entire incident was a fabricated prank orchestrated by two restaurant workers using ChatGPT to generate fake evidence. The department identified the suspects as Todd Durst, 45, and Luis Acevedo Jr., 40.
Authorities say Durst created an AI-generated image using ChatGPT and sent it to Acevedo Jr., who then forwarded the fabricated evidence to the restaurant’s owner. The image reportedly showed masked individuals wearing blue gloves inside the restaurant, designed to look like authentic security camera footage from multiple angles. Believing the image was genuine, the owner immediately contacted emergency services.
Durst remained at the restaurant when officers arrived and was taken into custody. He has been charged with swatting, obstructing official business, and inducing panic, and was processed at the Lorain County Jail awaiting his initial court appearance.
Acevedo Jr. departed the premises before police arrived and is currently being sought by authorities. His vehicle was discovered at the scene, but investigators believe he left the area while officers were interviewing other staff members. Warrants have been issued for his apprehension on identical charges.
Police noted that the image has been preserved in their evidence management system as part of the ongoing investigation. In a statement reviewed by PEOPLE, authorities emphasized that the hoax appeared to be connected to a growing social media trend involving AI-generated content.
The Elyria Police Department issued a public warning about the serious nature of such incidents. They stressed that AI-generated hoaxes involving false emergency reports are criminal offenses that pull vital resources away from legitimate situations requiring immediate assistance. The department made clear that individuals engaging in such conduct will face significant legal consequences.