Detectives
from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division
(CID) are urgently requesting the public’s assistance in locating Pekka
Heinonen, wanted for failure to appear in the Circuit Court of St. Mary’s
County. In April of 2017, Heinonen was
convicted by a jury of Assault First Degree and Use of a Firearm in
Commission of a Felony. These charges were the result of a potentially deadly
confrontation with Deputy Blaine Gaskill in July of 2016, during which Heinonen
pointed a loaded handgun at him and initially failed to comply with multiple
commands to lower the weapon. Deputy Gaskill responded to Heinonen’s residence
in the 45000 block of Stoney Run Drive in Great Mills for a report of a
disturbance.
On
Monday, May 1, 2017, Heinonen failed to
appear for a scheduled sentencing hearing before Judge Karen Abrams in the
Circuit Court of St. Mary’s County. Heinonen’s defense attorney, Rudolf Carrico
Jr, advised the court he spoke with the defendant’s wife on Friday, April 28th at which time he learned the
defendant would not appear in court.
No notification of this information was provided
by Carrico prior to the hearing.
A
bench warrant for Heinonen’s arrest was issued by the court.
CID detectives, with the assistance of the FBI and NCIS, are actively attempting to locate him at
this time. Detectives are asking anyone with information about Heinonen to
contact Detective Cory Ellis at 301-475-4200 ext.
*8125 or via email, cory.ellis@stmarysmd.com.
Contact
can also be made with the Duty Officer at
301-475-4040. Lastly, callers may call Crime
Solvers at 301-475-3333 (callers can remain
anonymous, or text a tip to “TIP239” plus your message to “CRIMES”
(274637).
 |
| Pekka Heinonen |
