Man charged with terroristic threat “violently destroying” Southeast Austin restaurant—
AUSTIN, Texas — A man has been charged with terroristic threat after allegedly “violently destroying” a Southeast Austin restaurant Sunday, overturning tables and throwing wine bottles through windows.
According to an arrest affidavit, officers responded to the 888 Pan Asian restaurant at 2400 E. Oltorf St. around 6:38 p.m. April 12 after multiple 911 callers reported a man destroying the restaurant. A second call reported shots fired, which investigators later determined was the sound of wine bottles exploding as Baron Heinrich, 30, threw them through the windows.
When officers arrived, patrons were scattered outside, crouching behind cover and running for safety, the affidavit said. Inside, officers had to “shuffle very slowly, moving tables and chairs out of the way” through broken glassware and plates covering the floor. A stainless-steel fountain drink machine had been ripped from the bar and flipped on its side, exposing a broken water line that was flooding the floor.
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Witnesses told officers Heinrich had returned from the restroom and began flipping tables and pointing toward the door as he destroyed the restaurant.
The restaurant manager told officers she feared Heinrich was going to strike her or patrons with a table, according to the affidavit.
“[The manager] repeatedly asked me, in an anxious tone what would happen to her when Baron comes back to her business and asked whether Baron would be going to jail. It appeared she was fearful that nothing would stop Baron from returning after this day,” the affidavit states.
The damage, estimated in excess of $40,000 forced the manager to shut down the restaurant.
“Baron invoked mass panic and a serious deployment of first responder resources after he interrupted both patrons and employees from enjoying use of the facility without fear, causing an entire group of the public to flee the restaurant or risk serious bodily injury,” the affidavit states.
According to online jail records, Heinrich remains in the Travis County Correctional Complex and is being held on a $3,500 bond.
