WASHINGTON — In an effort to be transparent, Fairfax County police have released more preliminary findings Wednesday about the death of a severely autistic man in their custody.
Police said one of their officers found 45-year-old Paul Gianelos in a Falls Church park last week after he wandered away from a group home outing, and three other officers eventually came to help.
Police have now released all of those officers’ names.
The first officer to come in contact with Gianelos was Master Police Officer Michael Meszaros, a 25-year veteran who is certified in Crisis Intervention Team training.
Six-year veteran Private First Class Hyun Chang arrived on the scene to help Meszaros escort Gianelos to a police car until they could reunite him with his caretakers.
Then, Gianelos became combative for some unknown reason.
Police said there was a struggle, and Gianelos and the two officers found themselves on the ground.
In the scuffle, Gianelos scraped his head.
After that, officer Jessica Kenna and her field training instructor, Private First Class Courtney Young, a 15-year veteran arrived.
They helped handcuff Gianelos behind his back for everyone’s safety.
Paramedics were called to take a look at Gianelos’ injury; while waiting, Gianelos suffered some kind of medical emergency.
He was taken to a hospital and later died.
An autopsy was done last Thursday, but results have not yet been released.
Two investigations are going on as a result of the death: a criminal one and an administrative one.
