Police: Man who spray-painted 'Kill Cops' graffiti arrested

BROOKLYN PARK, Md. - Anne Arundel County police have made a quick arrest after threats against its officers were spray-painted on the wall of a shopping center and other locations in the county.

The threats were spelled out on the rear wall of the Ritchie Highway Shopping Center as well as on a sign along Hammonds Lane in the Brooklyn Park section of the county.

One message said, "KILLING AAC Cops Coming Soon," and the other said, "Kill Cops."

When police were notified, they immediately began an investigation.

"They went out, started handing out flyers asking for information, talking to local businesses and checking video from businesses and local schools that are in that area," said Anne Arundel Police Lt. Ryan Frashure.

After police were made aware of the graffiti that was spray-painted here, they went to look at some surveillance video of the person who committed the vandalism. They showed that video to area business owners who recognized the young man and gave them a name.

"Once they went back to the station, they started looking at some photos to put some informational flyers out on him," said Lt. Frashure. "What they had discovered was he was arrested a few hours prior and he was still back in booking in a holding facility."

It turns out Zachary Shanor had just been locked up on a theft charge and the investigating officers asked him about the painted messages.

According to police, he confessed to it all.

"At this point, it just seems like he was frustrated, down on his luck, was walking around the community and basically didn't have anything better to do," Frashure said. "So he made a bad decision and an ill attempt at humor and committed this act.

"With any threat that we see of this nature, we have to take it seriously. Law enforcement officers unfortunately in today's society, we are threatened quite a bit."

Lt. Frashure said once the photos of the threats made it onto social media, the community responded with a steady stream of positive messages and support for police in the county.

Shanor has been charged with six counts of malicious destruction of property and is being held on $30,000 bond.