GLEN BURNIE, Md. — An Anne Arundel County Police officer is in custody after an undercover officer caught him trying to solicit sex from an 8-year-old on the internet.
The alleged encounter happened February 26 on a porn website. An unknown user sent a message to the undercover FBI Task Force officer, about having sex with a child.
Anne Arundel County child abuse detectives received the information on March 23, and identified the suspect as 33-year-old Zachary Steven Koshlap, a six-year veteran of the department assigned to patrol.
Investigators served a search warrant at Koshlap's Glen Burnie home and recovered several digital devices and other evidence.
During an interview with detectives, Koshlap admitted having a conversation about the child.
After finding apparent child pornography on the devices recovered from his home, police charged and arrested Koshlap for sexual solicitation of a minor and ten counts of possession of child pornography.
He's currently suspended without pay.
“True police, those with protective hearts, care about two groups of people more than any other. Those groups are our children and our elderly. Both groups, by virtue of their innocence or the effects of aging are the most vulnerable to predators," said Anne Arundel County Police Chief Timothy Altomare. "If someone wearing a badge betrays our oath of protection, we will do everything within our power to bring them to justice and make sure they never wear our uniform again. I am heart sick, physically ill, disgusted and enraged at the actions alleged in this case,” Altomare said.
Anyone with information can call police at 410-222-4733 or the Anne Arundel County Tip Line at 410-222-4700.
