Cat in the Hat AI trend leads to arrest

OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) – A student has been arrested after allegedly participating in a social media trend.

Oxford Police arrested a student this week, alleging the student used an AI-generated image of the Cat in the Hat character to threaten the middle school.

Law enforcement in Lamar County, near Hattiesburg, is investigating a separate case involving the same trend, police said.

The trend uses AI to alter the Cat in the Hat character to appear “creepy and demonic.” Text is placed over the image claiming the character is coming to specific schools to cause violence and chaos.

Individual students are also being threatened using the image, police said.

In Oxford, a post was made on Snapchat threatening students and the school with violence, using the AI Cat in the Hat image, police said.

Oxford police were notified and began an investigation.

After issuing search warrants, police arrested a juvenile they say is responsible for making the post.

Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said the juvenile will face charges of terrorism because the post made a violent threat against a large school.

McCutchen said the department will not tolerate any other threats.

“As parents, as students, if you see something, say something,” McCutchen said. “It’s so easy to think this isn’t serious, this is funny, this is just a trend. But when you see those things, please let us know. It’s just a trend until someone gets hurt. It’s just a trend until someone gets a life.”

McCutchen said social media is a useful tool but said it is important for children to stay safe online.

Following Operation Muddy Waters, McCutchen said he wants parents to be aware of online predators, trends and anything else that could be harmful to children.

The Oxford Police Department will host a free online safety seminar for the public at the Oxford Police Department on Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.

The seminar will cover how to stay safe online.