Myrtle Beach church member arrested for spraying Mica Miller protesters with sprinkler
A member of Solid Rock Church in Market Common was arrested Monday morning for charges related to spraying Mica Miller protesters in the face with a sprinkler.
Robert Lochel, 67, was arrested by Myrtle Beach Police on five counts of third-degree assault and battery on Monday. He is being held at the Myrtle Beach Jail and a bond had not been determined at time of publication.
On June 30, a group of people were protesting the church over the April 2024 death of Mica Miller outside Solid Rock Church, 803 Howard Ave. There were sprinklers scattered across church grounds and were turned on before services started, spraying protesters on the sidewalk, said protest organizer Alexandria Cuozzo.
A TikTok video captured the incident.
After the service, Lochel came out, picked up a sprinkler head and sprayed around six people in the face with water. He put the sprinkler down when a police officer came over.
Out of the six people, five filed assault charges which led to Lochel’s arrest.
Lochel told police he sprayed the protesters “due to his wife’s frustrations,” the police report said.
No one was hurt, although protester Melissa Pfeiffer said she felt embarrassed after the water made her white shirt sheer, The Sun News reported.
The maximum penalty for third-degree assault and battery is 30 days in jail, a $500 fine or both, according to South Carolina law.
Cuozzo said she and others have been protesting Solid Rock Church since May 6. Mica Miller, the wife of former pastor John-Paul Miller, died on April 27, and shortly after, her case gained national attention after allegations surfaced that John-Paul Miller had abused his wife.
John-Paul Miller has denied these allegations.
Protesters meet to protest for Mica Miller, which can be different for each protester. For example, Pfeiffer said as a victim of domestic violence she wants to bring more awareness to it.
John-Paul Miller said in a previous statement that Solid Rock believes in the right to protest, but he and church members are upset by not “being allowed to worship Jesus for one hour together.”
About the Mica Miller case
Mica Miller committed suicide on April 27, according to North Carolina officials. In May, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office released a video of her buying a gun before driving from Myrtle Beach to a North Carolina state park. There, she called 911 and told them she was planning to kill herself.
Her body was found in a state park.
Her death has become a national conversation topic, with people making TikTok videos about her, Facebook groups being started and posts circulating online with the #JusticeForMica.
Mica Miller’s father and sister, Micheal and Sierra Francis, told The Sun News previously that they believe Mica Miller was in an abusive relationship with John-Paul Miller. The family made it known that they did not approve of the couple’s relationship.
They also offered help as she tried to leave him. Mica Miller had filed for separation multiple times before her death.
