Maryland Student Arrested for Threatening to Shoot Campus Police Officers

Ryan Sulkowski shown in a photo provided by the University of Maryland Police Department.

A University of Maryland (UMD) student was arrested late Sunday for making threats against campus police and claiming he was waiting for background checks in order to buy weapons.

An unidentified person informed the police of Ryan Sulkowski’s behavior and he was taken into custody after an investigation.

The UMD independent newspaper, The Diamondback, reported that Sulkowski, who is from Baltimore, was charged with one count of threat of mass violence and one count of disturbing school operation.

After a court appearance Monday afternoon, he was released by a judge decided he was not a threat to himself or others.

The Baltimore Sun reported that, according to Sulkowski’s lawyer, the issue began as a dispute between Sulkowski and his roommate. He also confirmed that Sulkowski has withdrawn from UMD.

If found guilty he could face up to 10 years in prison and more than $12,000 in fines.

A university spokesperson wrote in an email obtained by the Diamondback that “This is a story of ‘if you see something, say something,’ and we are grateful for any reported information that helps keep our UMPD police officers safe.”