Champlin Man Gets Probation for Brooklyn Park Salvation Army Arson

A man accused of setting fire to the Brooklyn Park Salvation Army last fall causing more than $100,000 in damage received a three-year probation sentence, under a plea agreement approved Monday.

Jack Heinrich, whose last known address was in Champlin, had been charged with three felonies, including second-degree arson, second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal damage to property.

Hennepin County District Court Judge Gina Brandt approved the agreement, which included consent from the Salvation Army. The maximum penalty for second-degree arson is a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. However, due to Heinrich not having previous felony convictions, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines called for probation.

“Mr. Heinrich was given the presumptive probationary disposition, with stringent conditions of probation that must be followed, including both a chemical health assessment and mental health evaluation with the requirement of following any recommendations,” wrote Nicholas Kimball, communications director for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, in a statement to CCX News.

Charred remains of a pew at the Brooklyn Park Salvation Army following Nov. 3 incident.

Kimball said a supervisory agent will make sure the requirements are being fulfilled. Those requirements include undergoing random drug testing.

“If the requirements aren’t followed, Mr. Heinrich would risk a warrant being issued and having to come back to court where a variety of sanctions would be possible,” he said.

According to the criminal complaint, Heinrich threw a flower pot to break a window and enter the Salvation Army facility on Nov. 3. Investigators said he used donated coats to start a fire inside the building. Police arrested him shortly after the crime. During his arrest, police found a lighter, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his possession, the complaint said.

As part of Heinrich’s plea agreement, Judge Brandt dismissed the two other felony charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree damage to property.

The Salvation Army chapel, where the brunt of the damage occurred, has remained closed since the incident due to ongoing repairs.

Brooklyn Park