Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

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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

Leonardtown-California, MD
Breaking News
Paraphernalia Found In 3-Year-Old’s Bedroom During St. Mary's County Drug Bust: Sheriff Paraphernalia Found In 3-Year-Old’s Bedroom During St. Mary's County Drug Bust: Sheriff Paraphernalia Found In 3-Year-Old’s Bedroom During St. Mary's County Drug Bust: Sheriff
Paraphernalia Found In 3-Year-Old’s Bedroom During St. Mary's County Drug Bust: Sheriff A 38-year-old Maryland man was arrested after deputies say they found drugs and paraphernalia scattered throughout his home — including inside the bedroom of a 3-year-old child. Mechanicsville resident James Roy Chase is behind bars after an investigation by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, authorities announced on Thursday. Chase was arrested on Friday, Sept. 5, after detectives executed residential and body search warrants at an apartment in the 28000 block of Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown. During the search, investigators said they recovered suspected crack cocaine, a knife w…

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by Zak Failla
Jessup, MD
Obituaries
Maryland Teen Dies Unexpectedly Days After 19th Birthday: 'She Brightened Every Room' Maryland Teen Dies Unexpectedly Days After 19th Birthday: 'She Brightened Every Room' Maryland Teen Dies Unexpectedly Days After 19th Birthday: 'She Brightened Every Room'
Maryland Teen Dies Unexpectedly Days After 19th Birthday: 'She Brightened Every Room' Days after celebrating her birthday, a Maryland family is mourning the unexpected passing of Ashley Vasquez at 19. Loved ones are rallying around the family of Ingrid Ojeda and Jorge Vasquez, whose daughter died on Friday, Sept. 5, just four days after her 19th birthday. A member of the Blake High School Class of 2024, her family says Vasquez was known for "her kindness, warmth, and ability to brighten any room with her radiant smile."  "She was a selfless young woman who never hesitated to lend a helping hand—often putting others before herself," Roberto Ojeda said.  …

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by Zak Failla
Rockville, MD
Your Community
Gun Reports Trigger Two Police Responses, Lockdown At Northwood High School (DEVELOPING) Gun Reports Trigger Two Police Responses, Lockdown At Northwood High School (DEVELOPING) Gun Reports Trigger Two Police Responses, Lockdown At Northwood High School (DEVELOPING)
Gun Reports Trigger Two Police Responses, Lockdown At Northwood High School (Developing) Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police were called to Northwood High School twice Thursday for separate reports of a possible gun near campus. The school was locked down around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, as officers investigated reports of a gun — their second call of the day. Earlier, shortly after 11 a.m., officers were called to the 11200 block of Old Georgetown Road to investigate reports of a person with a gun, prompting officials to place Northwood High School in “secure status.” That incident was ultimately cleared. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, police were still inv…

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by Zak Failla
Upper Marlboro, MD
Breaking News
Blunt Force: Upper Marlboro Woman Lit Up In Hospital ER, Then Spit On Deputy, Sheriff Says Blunt Force: Upper Marlboro Woman Lit Up In Hospital ER, Then Spit On Deputy, Sheriff Says Blunt Force: Upper Marlboro Woman Lit Up In Hospital ER, Then Spit On Deputy, Sheriff Says
Blunt Force: Upper Marlboro Woman Lit Up In Hospital ER, Then Spit On Deputy, Sheriff Says A Maryland woman lit up in a hospital emergency room and refused to leave — sparking chaos for members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office.” Andrea Delores Lomax, 43, made a scene at Calvert Health in Prince Frederick recently, leading to her arrest, but not before she went down swinging. Hospital staff reported that the Upper Marlboro woman was caught smoking marijuana inside the ER and would not leave when asked, according to officials. Deputies said Lomax ignored repeated orders and became combative when they placed her under arrest.  As deputies tried to escort her from t…

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by Zak Failla
Chantilly, VA
Breaking News
Chantilly PT Sexually Assaulted Patient, Took Her Phone In Fairfax County: Police Chantilly PT Sexually Assaulted Patient, Took Her Phone In Fairfax County: Police Chantilly PT Sexually Assaulted Patient, Took Her Phone In Fairfax County: Police
Chantilly PT Sexually Assaulted Patient, Took Her Phone In Fairfax County: Police A physical therapist in Virginia sexually assaulted a woman during an appointment. Detectives are now looking for additional victims. Chantilly resident Samuel Young Choi, 34, a licensed physical therapist, is facing multiple charges following complaints from a woman who was allegedly inappropriately touched on at least two occasions, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. On Monday, Sept. 8, officers were called to investigate a reported sex offense in the 8000 block of Innovation Park Drive in Merrifield, when a woman reported that she was assaulted during an appointment. Whe…

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by Zak Failla
College Park, MD
Breaking News
Arsenal Seized After Brandywine Biker Opens Fire At Driver In Road Rage Shooting: State Police Arsenal Seized After Brandywine Biker Opens Fire At Driver In Road Rage Shooting: State Police Arsenal Seized After Brandywine Biker Opens Fire At Driver In Road Rage Shooting: State Police
Arsenal Seized After Brandywine Biker Opens Fire At Driver In Road Rage Shooting: State Police A Maryland motorcyclist is behind bars after troopers say he opened fire on another driver during a road rage incident — and was later found with a small arsenal of handguns. Brandywine resident Michael Larrell Green, 36, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 10, when investigators seized nine guns after a shooting in Prince George's County, according to Maryland State Police. The investigation began at around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, when a motorist called 911 to report their vehicle had been shot multiple times by a motorcyclist following a road rage encounter on southbound Route 5…

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by Zak Failla
Alexandria, VA
Breaking News
Virginia Nurse Shared Child Rape Videos With FBI Agent — Now He’s Going To Prison: DOJ Virginia Nurse Shared Child Rape Videos With FBI Agent — Now He’s Going To Prison: DOJ Virginia Nurse Shared Child Rape Videos With FBI Agent — Now He’s Going To Prison: DOJ
Virginia Nurse Shared Child Rape Videos With FBI Agent — Now He’s Going To Prison: DOJ A Virginia nurse practitioner who admitted to distributing child pornography, including videos depicting the rape and abuse of young boys will spend years in prison, federal authorities announced. Lucas Allen Fussell, 43, formerly of Onley, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to multiple counts of distributing child pornography. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the DOJ announced that Fussell has been sentenced to more than 87 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Authorities said that between December 2023 and February 2024, Fussell used an encrypted messaging app to exchan…

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by Zak Failla
Reisterstown, MD
Your Community
$237K Caterpillar Dozer Stolen In Maryland Stopped At Baltimore Port Before Ghana Shipment: CBP $237K Caterpillar Dozer Stolen In Maryland Stopped At Baltimore Port Before Ghana Shipment: CBP $237K Caterpillar Dozer Stolen In Maryland Stopped At Baltimore Port Before Ghana Shipment: CBP
$237K Caterpillar Dozer Stolen In Maryland Stopped At Baltimore Port Before Ghana Shipment: CBP It wasn’t an SUV or pickup truck this time — federal officers in Maryland stopped a $237,000 Caterpillar dozer from being shipped overseas after discovering it was stolen, officials announced. Customs and Border Protection said officers at the Port of Baltimore intercepted the 2015 Caterpillar D8T tractor dozer on Wednesday, Sept. 3, during a routine export exam. The heavy equipment, valued at about $237,000, was headed to Accra, Ghana, when CBP officers found that its vehicle identification number matched an active stolen vehicle report out of Carroll County. Deputies with the Carroll Cou…

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by Zak Failla
Montgomery Village, MD
Breaking News
Vigilante Fake Cop With Badge, Cruiser May Have Targeted Drivers Outside Montgomery County: PD Vigilante Fake Cop With Badge, Cruiser May Have Targeted Drivers Outside Montgomery County: PD Vigilante Fake Cop With Badge, Cruiser May Have Targeted Drivers Outside Montgomery County: PD
Vigilante Fake Cop With Badge, Cruiser May Have Targeted Drivers Outside Montgomery County: PD The fake cop who was busted in Montgomery County may have taken his brand of vigilante justice to other areas, police are cautioning. Montgomery Village resident Alejandro Ceferino Zunca, 67, is facing criminal charges after going all-out and creating a fake persona and posing as an officer, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. The scheme included a full outfit and vehicle that was marked and equipped to resemble a real police cruiser, officials said.  Newly released video shows that Zunca claimed to be a former police officer who was working with the Maryland Secr…

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by Zak Failla
Lexington Park, MD
Breaking News
Teen Dead, Five Targeted in Maryland Drive-By — Great Mills Shooter Sentenced to Life Teen Dead, Five Targeted in Maryland Drive-By — Great Mills Shooter Sentenced to Life Teen Dead, Five Targeted in Maryland Drive-By — Great Mills Shooter Sentenced to Life
Teen Dead, Five Targeted in Maryland Drive-By — Great Mills Shooter Sentenced to Life A 27-year-old Maryland man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a drive-by shooting that killed a teenager and nearly claimed the lives of five others, prosecutors announced. St. Mary’s County resident Keion Steven Brooks, of Great Mills, was sentenced to life plus 45 years in prison for his role in the January 2022 shooting on Pegg Road in Lexington Park, according to St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. The shooting happened on Jan. 12, 2022, just after 3:20 p.m., when deputies arrived to find two teens suffering from gunshot wounds.  One of them died at t…

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by Zak Failla
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