Man arrested in theft that led to assault rifle being found near school bus stop

Fred John Heintz (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - An investigation by Rochester Police into how an assault rifle wound up inside a backpack near a Rochester Schools bus stops has concluded with the arrest of a Laconia man on theft charges.
Fred John Heintz, 23, of Bowman Street, Laconia, was arrested shortly after noon on Oct. 20, a few hours after Rochester Schools released a statement to parents about the AR-15 styled gun being found near a school bus stop.
Police got involved in the incident after they were called to the area of Chestnut Hill Mobile Park around 7:20 a.m. for a report of the assault rifle sticking out of a backpack found on the ground near the entrance to the park.
"The backpack was discovered by a juvenile waiting for the school bus to arrive," Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said on Thursday. "The juvenile told a parent/guardian, who then took possession of the firearm until police arrived. "
Officers then began searching the area and located two males, whom they began speaking with.
"Through information police obtained from speaking with the males and from speaking with other people who live in the area, police determined the firearm, and other items found were stolen during random thefts from motor vehicles in the area around Chestnut Hill Road," Pinkham added.
Heintz was arrested on two counts of felony level theft. He was released on bail and issued a court date for Nov. 30, 2023.
Parents found out about the incident by mans of an email sent out by the school department around 8:25 a.m. that Friday.
"We are writing to let you know that a backpack was found on the side of the street near one of our bus stops. The bag contained a firearm. This was investigated by the RPD and it has been determined that it is unrelated to school," school officials said in a statement to parents.
According to the School Department, at no time was the safety of any of the students compromised. The emailed message concluded by stating, "We want to commend the people who reported this and the quick action by the Rochester Police Department."