Solid Rock Church Member Arrested for Sprinkler Assault

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The congregant at South Carolina’s infamous Solid Rock Church who sprayed protesters with water from a sprinkler last Sunday (June 30, 2024), turned himself into Myrtle Beach police this morning – and was promptly arrested on five misdemeanor assault charges.

Some expected the arrest of Robert W. Lochel was coming on Sunday (July 7, 2024). Sources told FITSNews police were on the scene but did not act on the warrants for 67-year-old Myrtle Beach man.

Protesters have been making regular appearances at Solid Rock following the heartbreaking death of pastor’s wife Mica Miller at North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park on the afternoon of April 27, 2024.

News of Miller’s death was exclusively reported by this media outlet.

***

Mica’s estranged husband, John-Paul Miller, is the founder of Solid Rock Church. In the aftermath of her death, he has come under withering scrutiny as Mica’s friends and family members have blamed him for her demise – even though an investigation determined it was suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot. Nonetheless, Mica’s family and friends have made a compelling case that John-Paul Miller’s alleged abuse was what pushed his late wife over the edge.

Others have suggested an even deeper nefariousness involving Miller and his allies at the church.

As a result of the ensuing controversy, crowds of protesters have been gathering at Solid Rock each Sunday morning during worship services, shouting “Justice for Mica” and “Mica’s blood is on your hands.”

On June 30, 2024, in an incident captured on video and shared to social media, John-Paul Miller allegedly turned on the sprinklers in a strip of grass separating the church building from the protesters on the sidewalk. Then, Lochel pulled a sprinkler from the ground and aimed it at protesters, dousing them with water.

Lochel told police he did it “due to his wife’s frustrations.”

Five of the protesters who were sprayed filed police reports over the incident. Lochel turned himself in at 7:40 a.m. EDT on Monday (July 8, 2024). He is facing one charge of third degree assault for each of the protesters he sprayed – five misdemeanor charges in all.

FITSNews continues to investigate the many threads involving the suspicious and tragic death of Mica Miller. Got info? Contact us at research@fitsnews.com.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Callie Lyons is a relentless investigative journalist, researcher, and author known for exposing hard truths with heart and precision. As a journalist for FITSNews, she dives into high-profile and murky cases—like that of Mica Francis Miller— with fearless resolve and a sharp eye for detail, whether it’s tracking white-collar crime, uncovering religious abuse, or examining the often-bizarre behavior of those who believe they’re above the law.

Callie made waves with her groundbreaking 2007 book Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal, the first to reveal the dangers of forever chemicals, a story that helped inspire the film Dark Waters and influenced global scientific dialogue. Her work has appeared in numerous documentaries, including Toxic Soup, National Geographic’s Parched: Toxic Waters, and more recently Citizen Sleuth, which examines the complexities of true crime podcasting.

Whether she’s navigating environmental disasters or the darker corners of society, Lyons operates with one guiding belief: “Truth never damages a cause that is just.”

***

WANNA SOUND OFF?

Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.