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Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

Weather
Minor Earthquake Shakes Virginia Communities; No Major Damage Reported Minor Earthquake Shakes Virginia Communities; No Major Damage Reported
Minor Earthquake Shakes Virginia Communities; No Major Damage Reported A small earthquake shook a Virginia county late on Tuesday afternoon, causing some concerns for some in the area. The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, there was a 2.8 magnitude earthquake reported in Henrico County and nearby municipalities.  According to USGS, the epicenter of the quake was around a mile north of Wyndham, not far from Short Pump (3.9 miles), Glen Allen (6.1 miles), Laurel (6.9 miles) and Richmond (13.2 miles). The epicenter of the Virginia earthquake on Tuesday. USGS "Since at least 1774, people in central Virgin…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Eight Displaced By Two-Alarm Blaze At Perryville Home Owned By Church: Fire Marshal Eight Displaced By Two-Alarm Blaze At Perryville Home Owned By Church: Fire Marshal
Eight Displaced By Two-Alarm Blaze At Perryville Home Owned By Church: Fire Marshal A devastating blaze tore through a Cecil County home late on Monday morning, leaving eight people displaced and claiming the life of a family pet, according to the Maryland Fire Marshal. The blaze broke out around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 in the kitchen of a two-story home owned by the Methodist Church of Perryville, investigators said. An adult living in the residence, who was babysitting a young child, discovered the fire in the kitchen.  Both escaped unscathed, and two others inside were able to flee before hearing a smoke alarm, according to the Perryville Fire Company. Officials in…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police Identify Sykesville Man, Kensington Suspect In Deadly Shooting Police Identify Sykesville Man, Kensington Suspect In Deadly Shooting
Police Identify Sykesville Man, Kensington Suspect In Deadly Shooting Police investigators in Montgomery County have identified both the victim and suspect in a fatal shooting that left a Sykesville man dead in Kensington. Benjamin Jack Dresbach, 21, of Kensington, has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of 29-year-old Trevor Dean Van Devander, authorities announced on Tuesday. The incident occurred at around 5:40 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, when 2nd District officers responded to the 3900 block of Franklin Street for a reported shooting.  Upon arrival, officers found Van Devander suffering from gunshot wounds and he was pronounced d…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Student Caught With Guns, Drugs In Vehicle Parked At High School In Spotsy: Sheriff Student Caught With Guns, Drugs In Vehicle Parked At High School In Spotsy: Sheriff
Student Caught With Guns, Drugs In Vehicle Parked At High School In Spotsy: Sheriff An improperly parked car in the Massaponax High School lot led to a startling discovery on Tuesday, when administrators and law enforcement uncovered two firearms and marijuana inside the vehicle, authorities in Spotsylvania said. The trouble began when school officials noticed a car parked without a permit on Jan. 14, prompting further investigation.  Working with the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the building, members of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office tracked down the vehicle, which belonged to a student in class.  Upon approaching the car, a strong odor o…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Wanted Woman Found Hiding In Crawlspace After Snowy Game Of Hide-And-Seek: Stafford Sheriff Wanted Woman Found Hiding In Crawlspace After Snowy Game Of Hide-And-Seek: Stafford Sheriff
Wanted Woman Found Hiding In Crawlspace After Snowy Game Of Hide-And-Seek: Stafford Sheriff Peek-a-boo!  A chaotic game of hide-and-seek led to four arrests in Stafford County when deputies tracked down a wanted woman who had help trying to evade the law. Destiny Keesecker, 25, was wanted on a felony probation violation when deputies spotted her bolting toward a home on Greenspring Drive around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13, according to authorities. The deputy, recognizing Keesecker, called for backup as the scene quickly unraveled.  Occupants in the home insisted she wasn’t there, with some shouting over one another in an attempt to obstruct the investigation, and des…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Smiling Suspect Seeking Soda During Traffic Stop Hit With Second DUI In Stafford, Sheriff Says Smiling Suspect Seeking Soda During Traffic Stop Hit With Second DUI In Stafford, Sheriff Says
Smiling Suspect Seeking Soda During Traffic Stop Hit With Second DUI In Stafford, Sheriff Says Tiffany Diaz was all smiles for the camera after finding herself in a familiar position following her second DUI arrest in Stafford County in the past five years. The 34-year-old found herself back behind bars at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on Monday morning after deputies spotted her swerving on the roadway before making a pitstop at 7-Eleven on White Oak Road. According to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, a deputy on patrol at around 1:45 a.m. on Jan. 13 was heading along the roadway when they found Diaz driving erratically, prompting a stop at the convenience store, though the dr…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Fredericksburg Dad Dies During First NFL Game In Dallas Fredericksburg Dad Dies During First NFL Game In Dallas
Fredericksburg Dad Dies During First NFL Game In Dallas What was supposed to be a joyful family outing turned into heartbreak when a beloved father of four, Marwan Al-Jamal, passed away during his first-ever NFL game at "Jerry's World" in Dallas. The devoted Washington Commanders fan from Fredericksburg was described by family as being a cherished husband, father, and friend known for his kindness and compassion before his unexpected passing.  Al-Jamal had traveled with his six brothers-in-law to watch the Commanders take on the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, though he wouldn't make it through the third quarter, suffering a …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Investigators Release Findings On Deadly Sterling Home Explosion That Killed Firefighter Investigators Release Findings On Deadly Sterling Home Explosion That Killed Firefighter
Investigators Release Findings On Deadly Sterling Home Explosion That Killed Firefighter The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System (LC-CFRS) has released its comprehensive report on the February 2024 house explosion in Sterling that tragically claimed the life of Firefighter Trevor Brown and injured 13 others. The blast occurred on Feb. 16, 2024, after first responders were called to a gas leak at 347 Silver Ridge Drive.  Investigators discovered a leaking underground propane tank behind the home and quickly evacuated the residents, but before the Hazardous Materials Team could secure the scene, the home exploded, trapping firefighters in the fiery wreckage. …

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by Zak Failla
News
Convicted Killer Gets Harsh Sentence For Armed Robbery Of Parkinson's Patient In Maryland Convicted Killer Gets Harsh Sentence For Armed Robbery Of Parkinson's Patient In Maryland
Convicted Killer Gets Harsh Sentence For Armed Robbery Of Parkinson's Patient In Maryland A Baltimore man with a chilling past as a convicted murderer has been handed a 20-year sentence after robbing a former co-worker suffering from Parkinson’s disease at gunpoint. Keith Curtis, 57, who served time for the brutal 1995 killing of a retired Johns Hopkins professor, was sentenced to 20 years for robbery and firearm possession by a Baltimore City judge, who went 10 years beyond the sentencing guidelines, authorities announced.  The decision was based on Curtis’ violent history and failure to reform, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office said. The November 2023 robbery …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Drug Trafficker Walks With Ankle Monitor After Major Charles County Crack Bust: Sheriff Drug Trafficker Walks With Ankle Monitor After Major Charles County Crack Bust: Sheriff
Drug Trafficker Walks With Ankle Monitor After Major Charles County Crack Bust: Sheriff Charles County detectives uncovered a major drug trafficking operation in Newburg, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old man busted with crack cocaine and stolen vehicles.  Demetrius Antoine McKinney was arrested last week and later released on electronic monitoring following a bust at his home in the 9500 block of Oak Ridge Court, where they recovered the contraband. On Thursday, Jan. 9, members of the Charles County Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant for McKinney, leading to the seizure of:  $14,000 worth of crack cocaine;  A loaded handgun; Several 50 and 100-ro…

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by Zak Failla
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