State police defuse dangerous situation in Sunrise Lakes

Convicted felon arrested

By PAT CAMUSO

DINGMAN TOWNSHIP — Pennsylvania state police responded to reports of shots being fired in the Sunrise Lakes development of Dingman Township by a man in a drunken rampage around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 30. Police defused the situation without injuries and a former convicted felon is under arrest.

Responding to the call were Troopers Enrico Pascolini Jr., Charles Phelps, Michael Carrol and Frank Orlando.

According to a state police spokesperson in Blooming Grove, Judy Lynn Heinrich met the troopers at the development’s entrance gate. She told them that her husband, 32-year-old Michael Heinrich of Sunrise Lakes, was intoxicated and threatening her and his sister, Nancy Heinrich, with a loaded 9 mm, semi-automatic handgun while in their home. According to the victims, the enraged man fired the weapon outside of the home before returning back into the house, again threatening and flailing the firearm.

“As we were walking toward the residence we heard Heinrich chamber a round in his handgun,” said Pascolini. He explained that, following a few tense moments, the accused appeared in an upstairs window.

At that point, according to Pascolini, the troopers were able to talk the man into laying down his weapon and exiting the house.

Also in the house at the time of the incident was the mother of the accused, Gayle Heinrich, along with his aunt, Marylyn Labuda.

Heinrich was arraigned before District Magistrate Stephen McBride and charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and reckless endangerment, all misdemeanors.

As an already convicted felon, it is unlawful for Heinrich to own or possess a firearm. As a result, Heinrich was also charged under “persons not to possess a firearm,” a felony. According to police, the Star 9mm, semi-automatic was not registered.

Heinrich is being held in the Pike County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 8 in front of District Magistrate Allan Cooper.