First Update to Death Investigation in Falls Church

The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Paul Arthur Gianelos of Annandale. Next of kin has been notified. Thus far, the investigation has revealed that the first responding officer, a veteran with more than 20 years of service with the police department and who is Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified, located Mr. Gianelos about a mile away, on Annandale Road and attempted to engage him in conversation. It was reported to responding officers that Mr. Gianelos, who was on an outing with other members of a group home, suffered from cognitive disabilities. Upon locating him, the officer contacted Mr. Gianelos’ caregiver and asked that they respond to reunite with him. The officer’s intention and purpose was to check on Mr. Gianelos’ welfare and to reunite him with his caregivers. For reasons yet to be determined, Mr. Gianelos became physically combative with the officer and a struggle ensued. The officer requested assistance and as three additional officers arrived, Mr. Gianelos, who remained combative, was taken to the ground and handcuffed. He sustained a minor abrasion during the scuffle and rescue was summoned. He was alert and breathing when rescue was called. Mr. Gianelos then experienced an apparent medical emergency, went into cardiac arrest and CPR was administered as he was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. No weapons were used against Mr. Gianelos during this incident. The police department is conducting a two-pronged investigation; first, the Major Crimes Division is conducting a criminal investigation and detectives from the Internal Affairs Bureau are conducting an administrative investigation. Updates will be provided as more details are known, or at least every 30 days.

Click on the link below to view a video that was live streamed on our Facebook page of Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Chief of the Fairfax County Police Department, addressing the media regarding this incident: https://www.facebook.com/fairfaxcountypolice/videos/1101232486585554/

If there were any community members who witnessed this event, please call the Fairfax County Police Department’s non-emergency number, 703-691-2131.

This case is under active investigation and the information provided is preliminary and is subject to change.

(Original Release Date 04/20/16 at approximately  3:20 p.m.)

Death Investigation in Falls Church Just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, patrol officers from the Mason District Station were dispatched to the area of Round Tree Park at 3320 Annandale Road for a report of a critical missing man who had wandered from the park on foot. Officers located the man and were attempting to return him to caretakers when a struggle ensued. While attempting to take him into custody, he experienced an apparent medical emergency. Fire/Rescue units responded and transported the patient to Inova Fairfax Hospital while actively performing CPR. The patient did not survive and was declared deceased soon after arrival at the hospital.

Major Crimes Division detectives and Crime Scene Section personnel are responding to the scene, along with personnel from the Internal Affairs Bureau, to begin their investigation. Additional information will be provided to the community as it becomes available.

This is preliminary information and is subject to change as the investigation evolves.