Church Hate Crime Suspect Arrested In Triangle

DUMFRIES, VA — A man suspected of taping racist hate images to the front door of a predominantly black church about a month ago is being held without bond after being arrested Thursday, according to Prince William County Police. Michael Todd Birkl, 49, of the 17900 block of Milroy Drive in Triangle, is charged with placing a swastika on church property with intent to intimidate with property rights — hate crimes, both.

On Aug. 27, church goers arrived at the Greater Praise Temple Ministries, 17838 Main St., for Sunday services and found the images. One of signs had an image from a German satire magazine, Der Spiegel, with President Donald Trump depicted as a Klu Klux Klan member, as well as a Confederate flag. On the other sign, someone drew swastikas and wrote: Fourth Reich. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The notes mentioned "white power," said the "day of the rope is coming," and included swastika and Confederate flag images. Dumfries Police Chief Nicholas Esposito told WTOP at the time that investigators were reviewing area security camera footage in hopes of finding a suspect. "It’s just not going to be tolerated; that’s not the community that the town of Dumfries has," Esposito said.

Eric Thompson, minster of music at the church, said posting the hateful notes was a cowardly act. He told WTOP that this is the first such incident the church has experienced, but since word spread of the messages, church officials have received support from the community.

In fact, Birk was arrested after recently receiving information from a citizen.

Photos: Prince William County Police and Greater Praise Temple Ministries