Natividad doctor arrested on domestic violence charges

UPDATED 4/16/2019 5:00 p.m.: A Central Coast doctor is facing kidnapping and attempted murder charges.

Dr. Richard Heiner, a doctor on staff at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, was arrested Saturday after police were called to a domestic dispute at a Salinas home.

Police say a woman at the home suffered major injuries.

Heiner pleaded not guilty in a Monterey County courtroom Tuesday to a variety of charges, including a charge of sexual assault on a woman he lived with.

One neighbor who wanted to be anonymous is still processing what she saw Saturday.

“Her face was pretty bad it was pretty,” the neigbhor said, “She was lifeless pretty much to me.”

Salinas Police say they went to the home on White River Circle Saturday afternoon after getting a disturbuing call.

“There appear[ed] to be some sort of disturbance in the background,” said Miguel Cabrera, with the Salinas Police Department about the call, “There [was] a female that appears to be asking for help. With the dispatcher’s help they were able to determine where this [was] happening.”

Police say Heiner and the woman lived together at the home. The neighbor KION spoke with says she heard sirens and saw police at the residence, she says the victim was badly beaten and completely naked.

She says she got the victim a blanket and saw the injuries she was suffering.

“She was lifeless, it’s etched in my brain and won’t go away.”

Heiner is an OB/GYN at Natividad Medical Center.

The hospital would not confirm how long he worked there but did tell KION in a statement:

“At this point, we have very little information beyond the arrest of one of our staff members. We have not been contacted by law enforcement, but if and when we are, they will recieve our full cooperation.”

Heiner’s next court date is set for May 7th.

PREVIOUS STORY: A doctor on staff at Natividad Medical Center has been arrested by Salinas police on several charges related to a domestic violence incident.

Dr. Richard Heiner is facing charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant among other charges.

Police were called to the incident Saturday around 4 p.m. Officers said it was a domestic dispute, but the woman’s injuries were to the extent that she had to be hospitalized.

Natividad Medical Center confirmed Dr. Heiner is on staff there, and a spokesperson wrote in a statement, “At this point, we have very little information beyond the arrest of one of our staff members. We have not been contacted by law enforcement, but if and when we are, they will recieve our full cooperation.”

Heiner is an obstetrician/gynecologist at the hospital, but they have not confirmed how long he has worked there.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.