Crime & Safety

Update: Owner of Well-Known Great Falls Restaurant Allegedly Brandished BB Gun-Type Weapon

More details of incident at popular Great Falls restaurant

Thursday Update: Fairfax County police have released further details surrounding the arrest of chef and owner of a popular French restaurant in Great Falls.

The victims were working at the restaurant of the accused, Jacques Haeringer, 62, of Great Falls, on Monday, March 19. Haeringer  allegedly told them to leave the property. They began gathering their equipment and Haeringer allegedly brandished a weapon at them, according to police

The victims immediately left the property and called police around 9:35 p.m. Responding officers located the victims and the suspect near the restaurant. An investigation led to the arrest of Haeringer. He was charged with brandishing a weapon and DWI, police said.

Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The weapon appears to be a BB gun-type weapon, police said.

Update Wednesday. Fairfax County police gave these details of the arrest of the chef and owner of a popular French restaurant in Great Falls, who was charged with driving while intoxicated and brandishing a firearm.

Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

At some point during the evening of March 19, there was a disagreement between the accused, Jacques Haeringer, 62 of Great Falls and two people at the restaurant.

Haeringer is the owner and chef of L'Auberge Chez Francois.

The two people called police and alleged that the accused pointed a weapon at them. Police stopped the accused in his vehicle and charged him with brandishing a weapon and DUI.

ORIGINAL STORY: The owner and chef of L'Auberge Chez Francois, the popular French restaurant in Great Falls, has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and brandishing a firearm, according to Fox 5 News.

Jacques Haeringer was arrested Monday night by Fairfax County Police according to the TV report.

A contractor said he was fired by Haeringer. When the contractor went to the restaurant to get his tools, "Chef Jacques pointed a shotgun at him and his fiancée,"  according to Fox 5.

"Chef Haeringer tells FOX 5 he pulled out the gun because he thought he was being robbed. He says his restaurant surveillance tapes will dispute the claims the couple has made about him," Fox 5 reported.

Here is the complete story.

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