Shaler chief: Detective asked wife not to go to protest
A woman arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol is married to a detective in the Shaler Township Police Department who asked his wife not to go to the rally that day, the Shaler police chief said Friday.
Jennifer Heinl, 55, of Ross, was charged Thursday with crimes connected to the riot. Her husband, Michael Heinl, a 30-year member of the Shaler police force, asked her not to travel to Washington prior to the rally, Chief Sean Frank said Friday.
“His wife was a part of that situation,” Chief Frank said. “He didn’t condone it. He didn’t ask her to go there. He wasn’t there. He was here working.”
The chief said Detective Heinl advised him after the riot that his wife had been at the rally encouraged by then-President Donald Trump just before the insurrection at the Captiol, but he said it was likely that the husband did not know Ms. Heinl went inside the building.
According to records in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Detective Heinl in February filed for divorce. He is not part of the investigation into Ms. Heinl’s alleged crimes, which were investigated by the FBI in Pittsburgh.
“She’s an adult,” Chief Frank said. “And I don’t think he had any part in her going there.”
As a detective investigating violent crime and child abuse, Detective Heinl is also a part of the FBI Pittsburgh office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Catherine Policicchio, an FBI spokeswoman, said the office had no comment on the matter.
Chief Frank commended Detective Heinl’s work for the police department:. “He’s a very thorough, hardworking detective. He’s got some advanced experience and training in some different areas of investigation.
“He’s received numerous awards throughout his career for the work on different cases that he’s been involved in,” the chief continued.
The chief said he thought Detective Heinl was being unfortunately connected to the investigation by the media due to his job.
“He’s been here 30 years, he’s a dedicated employee and he’s an excellent employee here,” he said.
During Ms. Heinl’s initial appearance in federal court Thursday, her marriage to a law enforcement officer was mentioned, and it was agreed he was to secure his weapon outside the home.
According to an affidavit, agents reviewing Capitol security footage from inside the
Capitol Rotunda saw a woman wearing a red, long-sleeved jersey bearing “Trump 20” on the back and a black hat with lettering on the front.
The woman was seen inside the Rotunda as well as inside the Capitol Crypt and other restricted areas.
The FBI identified the woman as Ms. Heinl through her association with Kenneth Grayson, who is seen in videos standing next to and talking to Ms. Heinl inside the Rotunda. Mr. Grayson, of Bridgeville, was previously charged in connection with the insurrection.
A review of Mr. Grayson’s Facebook page revealed communications between Mr. Grayson and Ms. Heinl on Facebook Messenger from Nov. 12 to Jan. 11. The discussions were about traveling to Washington and renting vehicles and hotel rooms. Mr. Grayson was arrested in Pennsylvania on Jan. 26.
Two days later, on Jan. 28, Pittsburgh FBI agents interviewed Ms. Heinl by phone about her association with Mr. Grayson.
Ms. Heinl said she traveled to Washington on Jan. 5 and came home to Pittsburgh the following day, the affidavit says. She said she stayed in a Courtyard hotel and that it was not the same hotel in which Mr. Grayson stayed.
Ms. Heinl also said she drove alone to the Trump rally and did not take anyone with her. She said she saw Mr. Grayson at a rally on Jan. 6 but denied entering the U.S. Capitol on that day.