Law Enforcement Actions in Support of Sustainable Development Goals: Case Report

Case File: 25-713738 – Child Protection and Institutional Integrity

Incident Summary

• Date of Initial Report: May 1, 2025
• Location: Elvaton Christian Academy, Millersville
• Nature of Complaint: Reports of inappropriate sexual behavior by a former teacher, William Auburn Jones, towards students.
• Investigation Outcome: Identification of five victims and the subsequent arrest of the suspect on July 25, 2025, on charges including sexual abuse of a minor and child abuse.
• Suspect Affiliations: The suspect was employed as a teacher from 2020 to 2025, serves as a Pastor at Jessup Baptist Church, and is affiliated with Mission Fields International.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This case directly addresses SDG Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children.
   • The coordinated response by the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit, the Fugitive Apprehension Team, and the State’s Attorney’s Office exemplifies the strengthening of institutions (Target 16.A) to protect vulnerable populations.
   • The investigation and arrest promote the rule of law and ensure access to justice for the victims (Target 16.3).
2. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The incident represents a severe breach of the safe learning environment essential for quality education, as outlined in SDG Target 4.A.
   • Law enforcement intervention is critical to restoring safety and trust within educational institutions, ensuring they remain protected spaces for learning and development.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Protecting children from abuse is fundamental to ensuring their long-term physical and mental health and well-being (Target 3.4). The actions taken seek to mitigate the profound negative health impacts of such trauma.

Public Appeal for Information

• The Anne Arundel County Police Department continues to seek information regarding these incidents or the suspect.
• Contact the Child Abuse Unit at 410-222-4733 or the anonymous Tip Line at 410-222-4700.

Case File: 25-724389 – Community Safety and Public Health

Incident Summary

• Date of Arrest: July 25, 2025
• Location: Brooklyn, Maryland
• Circumstances: An officer identified a vehicle that previously fled a traffic stop. The driver, Brandon Marquise Shields, fled on foot and was apprehended.
• Evidence Recovered:
  • Approximately 74 grams of suspected crack Cocaine
  • 46 strips of suspected Suboxone
  • Drug paraphernalia and packaging materials
• Outcome: The suspect was arrested and charged with Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) violations.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • This enforcement action directly relates to SDG Target 3.5, which aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse.
   • By removing illicit substances from the community, law enforcement contributes to reducing the harmful impacts of drug abuse on public health.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The proactive policing and successful apprehension of the suspect demonstrate the commitment of local institutions to reducing crime and promoting community safety (Target 16.1).
   • The arrest and subsequent charges uphold the rule of law, contributing to the development of peaceful and just societies.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • This is the most relevant SDG. The article details the actions of law enforcement (Anne Arundel County Police) and the justice system (State’s Attorney’s Office) in responding to criminal activities. It showcases the functioning of these institutions in investigating crimes, apprehending suspects, and laying charges to uphold the rule of law and provide justice for victims. Both the child abuse case and the drug violation case are examples of institutional responses to crime and violence.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • The article connects to this goal in two ways. First, the child abuse case involves severe physical and psychological harm to children, directly impacting their health and well-being. Second, the drug arrest involves substances like crack cocaine and Suboxone, pointing to the broader public health issue of substance abuse, which this SDG aims to address.
• SDG 4: Quality Education
  • The child abuse case directly undermines this goal. The abuse was perpetrated by a teacher within a school (Elvaton Christian Academy), violating the principle of a safe learning environment, which is a prerequisite for quality education.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • This target is directly addressed by the first part of the article. The investigation into “inappropriate sexual behavior by a former teacher toward her child,” the identification of five victims, and the subsequent arrest for “sexual abuse of a minor” and “child abuse” are all actions aimed at ending violence and abuse against children.
2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Both incidents relate to this target. The child abuse case is a clear form of sexual violence. The drug violation case, involving the seizure of crack cocaine, relates to the illicit drug trade, which is often associated with violence and crime within communities. The police actions described are efforts to reduce these forms of violence and crime.
3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The article provides a clear example of the rule of law in action. The process described—from the initial report by parents to the police investigation, collaboration with the State’s Attorney’s Office, issuance of an arrest warrant, and the final arrest—demonstrates the functioning of the justice system to hold an alleged perpetrator accountable.
4. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • The second case, involving the seizure of “approximately 74 grams of suspected crack Cocaine” and “46 strips of suspected Suboxone,” directly points to the issue of narcotic drug abuse. While the article describes an enforcement action rather than treatment, such actions are part of a broader strategy to combat substance abuse.
5. Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
   • The article highlights a severe violation of this target. The abuse occurred at a school (Elvaton Christian Academy) and was committed by a teacher. This incident represents a fundamental failure to provide a safe and non-violent learning environment for children.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 16.2 (Indicator 16.2.1: Proportion of children aged 1-17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month).
   • The article provides specific data for a severe form of violence: sexual abuse. The statement “At this time, five victims have been identified” serves as a direct, quantifiable measure of the number of children affected in this specific case, which contributes to the broader indicator of violence against children.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 16.3 (Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities).
   • The article explicitly states that officers “met with the mother of a student who reported inappropriate sexual behavior” and “met with another parent who reported similar inappropriate sexual behavior.” This demonstrates the act of reporting crimes to the police, which is the basis for this indicator. The police appeal for “anyone with information… to contact the Anne Arundel County Child Abuse Unit” further encourages this reporting.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 16.1 (e.g., crime statistics).
   • The article functions as a police blotter or crime report. The specific details—charges of “sexual abuse of a minor,” “sexual offense – fourth degree,” “child abuse,” and the seizure of specific quantities of drugs (“74 grams of suspected crack Cocaine,” “46 strips of suspected Suboxone”)—are the raw data that would be aggregated into official crime statistics to measure violence and crime rates.

4. Summary Table of Findings

Source: aacounty.org