Man arrested for placing racist and anti-Semitic signs at Dumfries church

WASHINGTON - A 49-year-old Virginia man is facing two hate-related charges after racist and anti-Semitic signs were found at a predominantly African American church in Dumfries last month.

Michael Todd Birkl, of Triangle, has been charged with placing a swastika on church property with intent to intimidate and interfere with property rights - hate crime.

Birkl is accused of placing the signs at the front door of Greater Praise Temple Ministries in the 17000 block of Main Street on August 27.

One of the signs posted shows what appears to be a person in a suit wearing a hood of the Ku Klux Klan along with the text, "Now that's white power. Day of the rope is coming [n-word]." Another sign contained several swastikas and the words, "The Fourth Reich."

Prince William County police say investigators were able to identify Birkl as a suspect after receiving information from a citizen on Thursday. Birkl was then arrested at his home.

Birkl is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on November 8.