Detective divorcing wife after she was seen in videos at US Capitol riot with other man
A police detective in Pennsylvania has filed for divorce from his wife after she was seen in videos taking part in the riots at the US Capitol with another man — whom she had been communicating with since November about the protest, according to reports.
Michael Heinl, a 30-year member of the Shaler Township Police Department, filed the papers in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas last month after he asked his wife, Jennifer Marie Heinl, not to travel to the nation’s capital on Jan. 6 — but she did anyway, Police Chief Sean Frank said, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Jennifer, 55, is now facing several federal charges including violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, the paper said.
The FBI identified her through her association with Kenneth Grayson, who is seen in videos talking to Jennifer inside the Rotunda.
Grayson was arrested in Pennsylvania on Jan. 26 and charged in connection with the insurrection.
A review of his Facebook page revealed communications between the two of them from Nov. 12, 2020, to Jan. 11, 2021, according to the Post-Gazette.
Their discussions were about traveling to DC and renting vehicles and hotel rooms, the paper reported.
The chief said Michael — a member of the FBI Pittsburgh office’s Violent Crimes Task Force — informed him after the riots that his wife had been there.
“His wife was a part of that situation,” Frank said. “He didn’t condone it. He didn’t ask her to go there. He wasn’t there. He was here working.”
He said it was likely that the detective was unaware that his wife had gone inside the building.
“She’s an adult and I don’t think he had any part in her going there,” Frank said.
Jennifer told the feds that she traveled alone to the capital on Jan. 5 and came home to Pittsburgh the following day, according to an affidavit cited by the Post-Gazette.
She told the FBI she had stayed in a “Courtyard” hotel, but that it was not the same hotel where Grayson stayed.
She admitted she saw Grayson at the rally but denied entering the Capitol that day.
Her attorney, Marty Dietz, said, “To make it clear, I’ve known Jennie Heinl a long time and she’s not a criminal. She’s deeply embarrassed,” WPXI reported.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/03/22/detective-divorces-wife-after-she-was-at-us-capitol-riot/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Girl, 6, killed after man, 35, shoots her multiple times in an Texas apartment ‘during an argument over spilled water’ after she clogged the toilet, authorities say
A man in Texas is accused of fatally shooting a 6-year-old girl over spilled water from a clogged toilet, authorities say.
Police in Pasadena responded to an apartment complex around 11:30 a.m. Friday following a call about a shooting, KPRC reported.
The girl — identified by family members as Laurionne Walker — had been shot multiple times, according to the outlet.
Police said Raymeon Means, 35, shot Laurionne after becoming angry over spilled water, KHOU reported.
The “alleged reason is that the victim clogged the toilet and that the water spillage angered the suspect and an argument ensued inside the home,” police spokesperson Sgt. R.L Granados told the Houston Chronicle.
A neighbor told KPRC that a man had knocked on his door not long before the shooting and asked him to see if there was water running into his apartment because the girl had clogged the toilet. He left and neighbors soon heard arguing.
“[The man] was banging on a car. The woman upstairs had a knife and they were saying, ‘Get out of here. Get out of here!’” Mauricio Alvarez said, according to the outlet. “[Later] he went running upstairs, and we heard like [four to five] shots, and he started running, and we started hearing screams.”
The girl was rushed to a hospital, where she later died, KTRK reported.
Following the incident, police say Means ran off, but authorities found him roughly two blocks away, according to the Chronicle.
He was charged with capital murder and denied bond, KHOU reported.
Laurionne’s mother told KTRK she’d dropped her daughter off with a relative so the woman could attend a vigil for Porsha Branch and her three children, who were killed in a crash just days before. Laurionne’s mother was the aunt of the three children.
Pasadena is just southeast of Houston.
via: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article250103139.html
Photo Credit: Daily Mail
5 White House staffers lose jobs over marijuana, drug use
Five White House staffers were fired because of their past use of drugs, including marijuana, press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday.
Marijuana has become a delicate issue for President Joe Biden’s administration because 15 states and Washington, D.C., allow for recreational usage despite a federal prohibition. The administration has tried not to automatically penalize potential staffers for legal behavior in their communities by developing a more flexible policy, Psaki said in a statement to The Associated Press.
“In an effort to ensure that more people have an opportunity to serve the public, we worked in coordination with the security service to ensure that more people have the opportunity to serve than would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use,” Psaki said. “While we will not get into individual cases, there were additional factors at play in many instances for the small number of individuals who were terminated.”
The Daily Beast first reported the firings Thursday night.
Hundreds of aides in the 2-month-old Biden administration have cleared the suitability review by career staffers handling security issues. The White House has said there can be multiple factors for dismissals, including hard drug use. The marijuana policy has become less stringent under the Biden administration, allowing for up to 15 past uses in a year among White House staffers.
The broader federal government has also become somewhat more lenient, with the Office of Personnel Management releasing a memo that says a person should not be deemed unfit merely because of past marijuana usage. The seriousness of the use and the nature of the position will also be factors in judging new hires.
Security and suitability reviews have been an issue for past administrations. At least 25 clearance denials were overturned by President Donald Trump’s administration, where people faced possible disqualification because of foreign influence, conflicts of interest, concerning personal conduct, financial problems, drug use and criminal conduct.
via: https://pix11.com/news/5-white-house-staffers-lose-jobs-over-marijuana-drug-use/
Photo Credit: pix11.com
1st NY case of Brazilian COVID variant found in Brooklyn resident
NEW YORK — The first case of the Brazilian COVID-19 variant (P.1) in New York State was discovered Saturday, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The case was identified by scientists at Mount Sinai hospital in Manhattan and verified by department of health labs. The patient is a Brooklyn resident in their 90s with no travel history, according to the state.
“The detection of the Brazilian variant here in New York further underscores the importance of taking all the appropriate steps to continue to protect your health,” Gov. Cuomo said. “While it’s normal for a virus to mutate, the best way to protect yourself is to continue to wear a well-fitted mask, avoid large crowds, social distance, wash your hands and get vaccinated when it’s your turn.”
The state’s department of health is working with their counterparts at the city to learn more about the patient and potential contacts.
“This is a race between the vaccine and the variants, and we continue to make tremendous progress of getting shots in the arms of eligible New Yorkers,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “In the meantime we remind New Yorkers to do everything they can to protect themselves and their neighbors as we continue to manage this pandemic.”
The P.1 variant was first detected in the United States at the end of January, and the CDC is currently reporting 48 cases nationwide. The P.1 variant has been designated a “variant of concern,” which means there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease and the potential for reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines.
While the state says that additional research is warranted, researchers at the University of Oxford recently released non-peer reviewed data that indicates the P.1 variant may be less resistant to the current vaccines than originally thought.
via: https://pix11.com/news/coronavirus/1st-ny-case-of-brazilian-covid-variant-found-in-brooklyn-resident-cuomo/
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Protesters hold “mask burning rally” outside Arizona Health Department
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – Setting masks on fire to take a stand. A group of about 50 people held a “mask-burning rally” in Phoenix Friday in hopes of getting the attention of state and city leaders. Their message was simple: in their minds, wearing masks is unconstitutional. They wanted to bring the heat. Literally.
“We are the people, and we’re done putting a muzzle on our face,” said Lena Larsen, who led the group.
They called it a “mask burning rally” one year after the pandemic began. People took turns throwing their masks in a burning trash can to prove their point.
“We’re looking and calling upon all Arizonans to join us in our fight to regain our constitutional freedoms,” said Larsen.
The group specifically held their rally in front of the Maricopa County Public Health Department, wanting officials to know they were there.
CJ Trapeur told Arizona’s Family he can see both sides but wants it to come down to personal choice.
“I’m fine wearing a mask; it’s just I would rather not. I like personal freedom, so that’s kind of what I stand for,” Trapeur said. “If you’re too scared of COVID, it’s easier to stay home than go out and be worried and still wear a mask.”
Others claimed masks don’t prevent the spread of the virus.
“It doesn’t work at any time. There’s no time where you should have to wear a mask. It shouldn’t exist at all,” said rally attendee Anthony Bergs.
The group also spoke about distrust in the vaccine, and some brought signs to express their views. Overall they feel those arguing against masks, like them, have been forcefully silenced, and they don’t like that.
“They’ve all been censored, they’ve been put in hiding, they’ve been cut off from mainstream media, and this is not okay,” said Larsen.
While the group was passionate, they were very peaceful and didn’t let anything get out of hand. Phoenix police blocked off the parking lot entrance to the health department to help keep everything safe.
via: https://www.kmov.com/news/protesters-hold-mask-burning-rally-outside-arizona-health-department/article_9ed768ca-dc0e-54bd-98ac-b60ceb2609e6.html?block_id=985911
Photo Credit: kmov.com
Texas Roadhouse founder Kent Taylor commits suicide amid COVID-19 battle
Texas Roadhouse founder and CEO Kent Taylor committed suicide after grappling with “unbearable” long-term symptoms of COVID-19, the company said.
Taylor, 65, took his own life Thursday, the restaurant chain said in a statement.
The statement said that Taylor had been experiencing post-coronavirus symptoms that had grown worse — including severe tinnitus, or ringing in the ear.
“Our community and the restaurant industry lost a legend and the Taylor family lost a wonderful son, father and grandad,” said a joint statement from the company and family obtained by CNN.
“Kent battled and fought hard like the former track champion that he was, but the suffering that greatly intensified in recent days became unbearable,” the statement said, according to McClatchy News.
Taylor had forfeited his salary from March 2020 through the rest of the year to allow the funds to go to help frontline restaurant employees during the pandemic.
“We will miss you, Kent. Because of you and your dream of Texas Roadhouse, we get to say we love our jobs every day,” the company wrote in a tribute on Facebook.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/03/21/texas-roadhouse-ceo-kent-taylor-commits-suicide-amid-covid-battle/
Photo Credit: nypost.com/texas roadhouse
Dallas nightclub shooting leaves one person dead and 7 wounded
(CNN) — A 21-year-old woman was killed and seven people wounded early Saturday in a shooting at a Dallas nightclub, police said.
The victim, identified as Daisy Navarrete, died from her injuries after a “disturbance between two groups” ended with someone shooting into a crowd at the Pryme Bar, Dallas police said via Twitter.
Seven other people were injured and transported to area hospitals, police said. Their conditions were not known.
Police responded at 1:30 a.m. to a call about the shooting.
“There are currently no suspects identified or apprehended. The motive and circumstances surrounding the murder are under investigation,” the department said in the Twitter post.
Police are seeking information from the public. Crime Stoppers offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Someone hung up the phone at the club when CNN called for comment on Saturday.
via: https://www.kmov.com/news/dallas-nightclub-shooting-leaves-one-person-dead-and-7-wounded/article_fbba7824-29dd-587d-b0cd-e60df7215692.html
Photo Credit: KTVT
Boy, 2, dies after eating fentanyl mom bought with stimulus check, cops say
A 2-year-old Kentucky boy died after consuming fentanyl his mother bought using her stimulus check, police said.
Lauren Ashley Baker, 33, admitted to cops in Ludlow Thursday that she got the highly addictive synthetic opioid last weekend in Cincinnati while using funds from her stimulus check, WXIX reported.
After getting the highly addictive drug — up to 100 times more potent than morphine — Baker said she brought it back to Ludlow, where she shared it with two other people, a police report shows.
She then said she “took a shot” of fentanyl sometime Thursday before falling asleep. Her 2-year-old son then ate some of the drug, which was in her purse, as she dozed away, police said.
Baker later awoke to find her purse emptied out and her son not breathing. The boy’s father, who was not identified, called cops when he got home, according to the police report.
Cops found the boy in respiratory arrest when they arrived at the residence.
He was rushed to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, investigators said.
A substance believed to be fentanyl was discovered scattered across a bed inside the residence, as well as empty packaging for Narcan, a drug designed to block the effects of opioids, according to the police report.
Baker, who is facing charges of murder, importing fentanyl and trafficking of a controlled substance, remains held without bond at the Kenton County Detention Center, records show.
It’s unclear exactly which stimulus check Baker was talking about to cops. The third round of coronavirus relief to taxpayers was deposited into roughly 90 million bank accounts on Wednesday — days after police say she admitted using stimulus funds to get the fentanyl in Cincinnati.
If convicted of murder, Baker could face up to 50 years in prison, WCPO reported.
She’s set to appear in court Friday, according to WLWT.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/03/19/boy-2-dies-after-eating-fentanyl-mom-bought-with-stimulus-cops/
Photo Credit: Kenton County Jail
Man allegedly beat girlfriend’s 7-year-old son to death with hammer “I just lost it.”
A man arrested for allegedly beating his girlfriend’s 7-year-old son to death with a hammer in West Virginia told authorities he “just lost it,” according to police.
Rashad Akeem Thompson, 34, allegedly carried out the deadly assault around 2:45 a.m. Thursday inside an apartment complex in the city of Beckley, authorities said.
When cops arrived, they found a hammer covered in what appeared to be blood on the living room floor, WSAZ reported.
They discovered the young boy’s body lying on the couch with extreme trauma to the left side of his head.
“I just lost it,” Thompson allegedly told police, according to the local report.
The criminal complaint states detectives believe he was bludgeoned with the hammer.
The boy’s 24-year-old mother, identified by the outlet as Felicia Brown, was found at a neighbor’s house bleeding heavily from apparent stab wounds to her face, cops said.
She was hospitalized in critical condition.
A broken knife was also recovered inside the home, the outlet reported.
Thompson was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, malicious wounding and two counts of domestic battery, authorities said.
He is being held at the Southern Regional Jail pending his arraignment.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/03/19/man-allegedly-beat-girlfriends-son-to-death-with-hammer/
Photo Credit: Beckley Police Department
Assistant Penn. DA demoted for making DoorDash deliveries during his shift
A Pennsylvania prosecutor was demoted for making DoorDash food deliveries during his shift, The Morning Call reports.
Bucks Country First Assistant District Attorney Gregg Shore will be reassigned as a deputy district attorney, and will earn “a significant reduction in pay” from his $129,474 salary, the outlet said.
Shore “demonstrated very poor judgment” by working the side job — sometimes during business hours — for the online food delivery company, District Attorney Matt Weintraub reportedly said in a statement Thursday.
“His actions were thoughtless and demonstrated a lack of leadership,” the DA reportedly said.
“He also violated the trust that I, the other members of the district attorney’s office and the people of Bucks County place in each of us. I have a duty to hold those who violate that trust accountable. No exceptions.”
The downsized moonlighter avoided being fired because he was always on call and available — even after leaving the office, according to the article.
Shore – who started working for the office in 1996, and returned to Bucks County after stints in other public roles – issued an emotional apology, the outlet reported.
“Due to my personal circumstances, I worked a second job delivering food during the pandemic,” Shore said, his voice reportedly cracking at times. “I primarily worked at night and on weekends.
“However, I made the incredibly poor decision to deliver during the workday at times,” he told the Morning Call.
“In doing so, I realize I betrayed my boss, my colleagues and, most importantly, the citizens of Bucks County,” he said.
“The people of Bucks should expect that someone working in the capacity of first assistant district attorney would give their complete and undivided attention when duty calls, which is sometimes during nontraditional working hours. I consistently answered that call.”
Shore said he’s “extremely grateful” for the second chance.
The enterprising prosecutor will now have “the opportunity to earn back the trust and confidence of myself, this office and the Bucks County community,” Weintraub reportedly said.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/03/20/pennsylvania-da-demoted-for-making-doordash-deliveries/
Photo Credit: AP