Police Identify Man Who Died After Struggle with Police Wednesday

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- (UPDATE Wednesday 10:30 p.m.): Fairfax County Police have identified the man who died after a struggle with police Wednesday in a local park.

The man is Paul Arthur Gianelos, 45, of Annandale, police said. Gianelos was reported as missing and died after a struggle with police at Round Tree Park (see map below).

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 Training (CIT) certified, located Gianelos about a mile away, on Annandale Road, and attempted to engage him in conversation, according to police.

It was reported to responding officers that Gianelos, who was on an outing with other members of a group home, suffered from cognitive disabilities, police said Wednesday night.

After locating him, the officer contacted Gianelos’ caregiver and asked that they respond to reunite with him, police said.

The officer’s intention and purpose was to check on Gianelos’ welfare and to reunite him with his caregivers, police said Wednesday night.

For reasons yet to be determined, Gianelos became physically combative with the officer and a struggle ensued, according to police.

The officer requested assistance and as three additional officers arrived, Gianelos, who police say remained combative, was taken to the ground and handcuffed.

He sustained a minor abrasion during the scuffle and rescue was summoned, police said. Gianelos was alert and breathing when rescue was called, according to police.

Gianelos then experienced an apparent medical emergency, police said, and went into cardiac arrest. CPR was administered as he was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later, police said.

No weapons were used against Gianelos during this incident, police said.

The police department is conducting a two-pronged investigation, they said. 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 the FCPD Facebook page, of Col. 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 story:

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- Fairfax County Police are investigating a death of a man Wednesday who struggled with police officers at a local park, according to police.

Just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, patrol officers from the Mason District Station were dispatched to the area of Round Tree Park, at 3320 Annandale Road (see map below), for a report of a critical missing man who had wandered from the park on foot, police said.

Police posted this message late Wednesday afternoon:

The Fairfax County Police Facebook page is here.

Officers located the man and were attempting to return him to caretakers when a struggle ensued, according to Fairfax County Police. While attempting to take him into custody, the man experienced an apparent medical emergency, police said.

Police did not elaborate on the apparent medical emergency or give details of the struggle in an initial news release about the incident.

Fire and rescue units responded and transported the patient to Inova Fairfax Hospital while actively performing CPR, according to police. The patient did not survive and was declared deceased soon after arrival at the hospital, police said.

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, according to police.

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