Written in red, “Kill Cops” is on Upland Road, about a block away from where Anne Arundel County police say Zachary Shanor lives.
It's one piece of evidence, just over the line in Baltimore City, along with the vandalism on a sign at Brooklyn Park M.S. and Chesapeake Arts Center. Police arrested and charged 26-year-old Shanor Wednesday.
"He wouldn't do nothing like that. I don't know why he's connected to that," said Angela Greco, who spent 10 years as Shanor’s girlfriend.
Her finger shows a tattoo baring his name. They also have a 4 year old son. But two months ago, they split and Greco says being alone may have caused him to act out.
"Zachary is a really good guy. He's an awesome guy. He's always been good to me," said Greco.
A spokesman for Anne Arundel County police says surveillance video and people in the Brooklyn area helped identify Shanor as the suspect responsible for six crimes that threatened the police.
Writing on a wall at the Ritchie Highway Shopping Center says "Killing AAC cops coming soon.” It's covered up now, right next to a sign that reads the parking lot is videotaped 24 hours.
We asked Shanor’s uncle why he would reference killing the cops.
“I don't know, probably just drugs. Say he was a big shot, just running his mouth probably," said Steven Lease.
Police say the spray painting happened late Monday night, and a person in the area saw it first Tuesday morning. Once detectives got his ID, they realized he was arrested earlier in the day for shoplifting.
"He implied to detectives that he meant no harm. He didn't want to hurt any law enforcement officers, he didn't want to hurt anyone. Apparently, it was just a bad decision, an irresponsible decision and basically an ill attempt at humor," Lt. Ryan Frashure, an Anne Arundel County police spokesman, said.
Bad humor leads to one man getting charged twice in one day.
"He doesn't live with us at the moment, he's living somewhere else. But he's never done anything that was harmful to anyone," said Greco.
Shanor is charged with six counts of malicious destruction of property. He is being held on a $30,000 bond.
We asked the State's Attorney's Office why Shanor wasn't charged with a hate crime. Maryland law doesn't fit in this case. The law speaks to one's race and gender but not to the community of police.
