Man Threatens To Blow Up Police Car, Burn Down Places Of Worship

MOUNT VERNON, VA—A man is facing charges after threatening to blow up a police car, Fairfax County Police say. Investigations reveal he allegedly made additional threats against places of worship and government buildings in Virginia.

According to police, suspect called the Mount Vernon District Station around 5 a.m. on Jan. 2. When the suspect became hard to communicate with during the call, the officer transferred the it to a 911 operator, believing the suspect needed assistance. When the call went to 911, the suspect began to threaten bombing and shooting a police cruiser that had an officer inside.

Detectives began and investigation, leading them to identify Virgil Snyder, 46, as the suspect. NBC Washington reported that a detective called Snyder, who claims the officer in the initial call previously harassed him. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

It got even more disturbing when the detective checked a Facebook page under the suspect's name. According to warrants obtained by NBC Washington, one post said, “Let’s burn down the Governors [sic] Mansion n [sic] Richmond and let’s burn down the churches and synagogues and mosques. Let us burn down the court house in Fairfax and Alexandria or in every county in Virginia.”

He was arrested the evening after the call at a Giant grocery store in the 11200 block of Fairfax Boulevard in Fairfax. Snyder was charged with threatening to bomb or damage a means of transportation. No one was harmed in this incident.

He will appear in court March 13.

Image via Fairfax County Police