Latest news with #AnneArundelCounty
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
2 teens charged after kicking in door of Maryland home as part of possible TikTok challenge, police say
Two teens are facing charges after police said they kicked in the door of a Maryland home Monday morning in what could be a possible TikTok challenge. Anne Arundel County police responded to the 7900 block of Sutherland Court for a reported burglary around 3:15 a.m. Once on the scene, a homeowner told police that her door was kicked in, and her door frame was damaged. The 14- and 15-year-old boys were found nearby, police said. Shortly after, a second homeowner in the 3500 block of Old Crown Drive reported that the two teens had attempted to kick in their door. Both teens were identified and charged, according to officers. While the crime may seem isolated, Justin Mulcahy, a spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, believes it could be part of a nationwide TikTok trend. "It's concerning all the way around," Mulcahy said. "We believe – based on how this was done – that this was potentially a door-kick challenge that's going on nationally." According to Mulcahy, teens across the country are participating in the challenge where they kick in the doors of homes during early morning hours. "Who knows for what reason other than to videotape themselves doing this," Mulcahy added. Mulcahy is urging parents to talk to their kids about the dangers of participating, saying the startling action could escalate into violence or tragedy. "What may seem like a funny prank to a child is not," Mulcahy told WJZ. "And you're infringing on someone's right by being on their property." He emphasized that participants could face criminal charges or homeowners could take action. "There could be a reaction," Mulcahy said. "We want to avoid that. We don't want any violent encounters."
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Former Anne Arundel County teacher held without bond for alleged sexual abuse
A former teacher and pastor in Maryland was ordered to be held without bond on Monday after he was accused of sexually abusing students, according to court officials. William Auburn Jones, 58, was arrested on Friday, July 25, after police said he touched multiple students inappropriately while he was working at Elvation Christian Academy in Anne Arundel County. Jones worked at the school between 2020 and March 2025 before he was removed from his position. According to police, Jones also serves as the pastor of Jessup Baptist Church and is affiliated with Mission Fields International, a global missionary organization. Police responded to the school on May 1 for a reported sex offense. Once they arrived, a parent told them that their child was involved. Through an investigation, Child Protective Services identified five alleged victims who were between the ages of 10 and 15. The investigation also revealed that the alleged abuse occurred between August 2023 and May 2024, according to court documents. The court documents detailed how a 12-year-old told police that Jones abused him during third through sixth grade. A 10-year-old student also told police that Jones touched him inappropriately in school, according to court documents. Three other students also reported that they were abused and inappropriately touched by Jones, court documents show. Jones is facing several charges of sexual abuse of a minor, assault, and sex offenses. Elvation Christian Academy said it is cooperating with law enforcement during the investigation into Jones. "First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected, including students, families, staff and others," school officials said in a statement. WJZ has not received a response from Jessup Baptist Church or Mission Fields International.
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Former Anne Arundel County teacher accused of sexually abusing students
A former teacher at Elvaton Christian Academy in Anne Arundel County was arrested Friday, accused of sexually abusing multiple students at the school, according to court documents. Police said William Auburn Jones, 58, of Gambrills, inappropriately touched several students while employed at Elvaton Christian Academy between 2020 and March 27 of this year, when he was removed from his position. On May 1, officers responded to the school following a report of a sex offense. Police said they met with a parent who reported inappropriate sexual behavior toward their child. Child Protective Services began investigating the alleged abuse and conducting forensic interviews. Investigators ultimately identified five alleged victims between the ages of 10 and 15. On May 15, a 10-year-old, identified in charging documents as Victim A, told police that Jones, known to students as "Mr. Bill," touched him inappropriately in the computer lab when the student was in fourth grade. The alleged abuse started in Aug. 2023 and ended in May 2024. A 12-year-old student, referred to as Victim B, told police that Jones abused him from third through sixth grade. Three other students also reported alleged abuse to police, detailing accounts of inappropriate touching by Jones. Police said Jones is affiliated with the global missionary organization Mission Fields International and serves as pastor of Jessup Baptist Church in Jessup. He faces multiple charges, including sexual abuse of a minor, fourth-degree sexual offense, and child abuse. He was arrested without incident on July 25, police said. WJZ has reached out to Elvaton Christian Academy, Jessup Baptist Church and Mission Fields International for comment on Jones' arrest. We have not yet received responses. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
CBS News
7 days ago
- CBS News
Families urge Maryland school not to bring back teacher acquitted of sex abuse
Several families launched a petition to urge a Maryland school district not to bring back Matthew Schlegal, a teacher who was acquitted of sex abuse in June. Schlegal was found not guilty on 18 counts of sex offenses, and three other charges were dismissed after a five-week trial. He was accused of sexually abusing eight of his students between 2022 and 2024 when he was a third-grade teacher at an Anne Arundel County elementary school. The parents of some of the alleged victims and child sex abuse advocates have continued to express their outrage after the trial, claiming Schlegal was wrongly acquitted. The petition, launched by the families through attorney Thiru Vignarajah, urges the school district to keep Schlegal out of the classroom. "Teaching is not a right—it is a responsibility and a privilege. We believe student safety must come first," the petition reads. After Schlegal was acquitted in June, the school district said it would work to finalize a review of his job status, as they are obligated to do under state law. According to Vignarajah, the school district said this week that it's still evaluating the employment decision. "The group is initiating a petition drive to ensure the public's voice is heard loud and clear: Individuals who betray our trust and exploit our children should never again teach in Anne Arundel County," Vignarajah said in a statement. Schlegel was released from custody shortly after the verdict, but is prohibited from contacting the alleged victims or their families, and cannot be unsupervised around minors. His attorneys said he suffered and would be in shock for some time.
CBS News
22-07-2025
- CBS News
Maryland man sentenced after burning neighborhood street with flamethrower
A Maryland man has been sentenced to one year of community service and 60 hours of probation after burning a neighborhood street with a flamethrower last year. Prosecutors said Craig McQuin posted a video of himself using the flamethrower to burn the words "Trump" and "USA" into the ground. On Nov. 15, 2024, arson investigators responded to Hickory Hollow Drive in Glen Burnie to assist Anne Arundel County Police with a report of property destruction. When they arrived, they saw the words "TRUMP" and "USA" burned into the middle of a public road maintained by the Creekside Village Homeowner Association, officials said. After an investigation, police found a TikTok video showing a man later identified as McQuin using the flamethrower to ignite the two words, which had been spelled out on the asphalt with a flammable liquid. McQuin was charged with second-degree malicious burning, destruction of property (greater than $1,000), and possession of a destructive device. "Though his actions were reckless and damaged community property, I appreciate that the defendant has accepted full responsibility for what he did. In addition to forfeiting the flamethrower, he has paid $5,500 restitution and must complete an additional sixty hours of community service as part of his sentence," Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said in a statement.
