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Police: Recent Contact With Wetterling Suspect Focused On Brother

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Danny Heinrich, the person of interest in the Jacob Wetterling disappearance, moved to Annandale eight years ago. That is where he was arrested at his home last week.

The community questions how he went under the radar for so long. Authorities told WCCO they knew Heinrich, but not for the reason you would think.

Police in Annandale are familiar with the Heinrich name, but not so much Danny Heinrich. Reports obtained by WCCO show more than a dozen calls to Heinrich's Myrtle Avenue home about his older brother, David, in 2014.

"They were medical calls, alcohol related and mental health issues," Annandale Police Chief Jeff Herr said.

Danny Heinrich moved to the Annandale neighborhood in 2008, and his brother David lived with him for a period of time. According to Herr, the department's only contact with Danny was about his brother, calling Danny "helpful."

"Nothing with those calls for service with David indicated any kind of suspicious activity with his brother, Danny," Herr said.

That is why Herr admits it was surprising for his department to learn Danny Heinrich was charged with child pornography and named a person of interest in Wetterling's disappearance. He began working with the FBI in July, when they served a search warrant on Danny Heinrich's home.

"I want to let our public know that we were aware of what was going on. We were in communication with the FBI as well all the other agencies involved, and, you know, the safety of our community is number one," Herr said. "The case building is one thing on their side, but the safety is the other, and there were mechanisms put in place to provide safety."

Herr says he talked to Heinrich's neighbors Wednesday night after his arrest to let them know what was going on.

Herr says there are no unsolved sexual assault cases involving children in Annandale.

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