House Explosion in North Arlington

[Anonymous]

The owner of the duplex also owned a house in McLean near McLean Central Park that he apparently inherited from his father. Sold it for slightly over $1M in 2021 and it got torn down and replaced by a $3.75M McMansion that sold this summer.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

Agree.

I would not want any of those people in my neighborhood.

Do you even hear yourself? We do have something along the lines of basic civil rights left in this country. While I do agree that dangerous people should not be allowed to hurt others, I am NOT ok with the government creating watch lists of people who their neighbors have decided are a little "weird" so they must be dangerous. Was this man convicted of any crimes before yesterday? I bet not. So what are your grounds for "tracking" him? Putting crazy stuff on the internet? Half of DCUM would be on this list.

How about harassing federal officials, abusing public resources with frivolous lawsuits, and stalking/making threats against his neighbors. This wasn’t just a quirky homebody.

We should put all the mentally ill on a watchlist, so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We live in the area and were told the suspect has tin foil covering his windows. Apparently the house was up for sale a few years ago but he also chased off potential buyers with a knife.

How the heck can someone’s mental health issues/danger to society be so obvious and yet we do nothing? Honestly this incident was a failure to this man as much as the surrounding neighbors. He clearly had paranoid delusions and was likely psychotic. Would have been better to stabilize him with medical treatment than deal with this fallout.

Yes, this is the current state of affairs with mental health, but it's been going on for decades, slowly getting worse. But while every person and every politician in the nation is lamenting the lack of access to mental health and lack of interventions, our lawmakers have been doing absolutely *nothing* about it, and meanwhile we sell everyone more and more weapons, because - it's not the guns!

Mental health access, and what can be done in accordance with the law as far as interventions go, is greatly diminished, while our nation has had an exponential increase in weapon ownership since the 2000s.


And yes, those were gun shots before the explosion. Kudos to our police and fire departments.

It's not just availability of beds. There is a nonprofit waiting to sue any locality that would make involuntary commitment easier.

Mental health access is a joke and just lips moving with no real substance to back it up - it's unaffordable for most people. Mental illness is still a stigma (look at some of the comments on this thread) and people who need help have to first recognize that they even need help. Plain and simple - you have to be an immediate threat to yourself or others before they will involuntarily treat you. And even that is temporary.

How often have we been told housing first, so that the individual can work on their issues without fear of being homeless. That worked here, right? He sought treatment for his delusions?

Having a home is not enough to help. Also, we have no proof he sought treatment. If he was schizophrenic, he likely did not recognize the need for help. Even if he did, compliance with taking the meds, going to therapy is low.

Housing First doesn't require you to receive treatment. You just tell the case worker no thanks, once a month. Assuming they don't chase you off with a knife, I guess.

That’s the wrong approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

where do you draw the line? Do you include depression? ADHD? Tourette’s?

Also, what's to say the people living next to you aren't fine and then suddenly they have a psychotic break? Or they sell their house to someone who you aren't aware is mentally ill? This is a completely ridiculous and obviously implausible plan, even ignoring the fact that it's absurdly ableist.

We seem totally normal and have a 20-year-old kid with schizophenia who has lived here since the age of 3. What do you suggest doing about that?

Also, when they are off their meds it gets pretty bad, but since they turned 18 there is little we can do as parents because they can refuse treatment, refuse to go to the dr, refuse to go to the hospital, etc. The police won't even do anything unless they are literally holding a razor blade to their arm or have actually hurt someone--threatening isn't enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see they have kids. Does anybody know where they went to school? And if the school or an organization is raising funds or collecting donations for this family? Please link it here.

The kids go to Ashlawn. Extra counselors / support will be available for kids who need it. The school will send home materials for parents to support discussions at home. The PTA will coordinate collections and support from the school. The local Buy Nothing group is incredibly active as well. Please respect this family’s privacy and allow funds and goods to flow through a few point people who know them personally.
If you are not a neighbor, I would check the Arlington Neighbors helping Neighbors Facebook group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

Agree.

I would not want any of those people in my neighborhood.

Do you even hear yourself? We do have something along the lines of basic civil rights left in this country. While I do agree that dangerous people should not be allowed to hurt others, I am NOT ok with the government creating watch lists of people who their neighbors have decided are a little "weird" so they must be dangerous. Was this man convicted of any crimes before yesterday? I bet not. So what are your grounds for "tracking" him? Putting crazy stuff on the internet? Half of DCUM would be on this list.

How about harassing federal officials, abusing public resources with frivolous lawsuits, and stalking/making threats against his neighbors. This wasn’t just a quirky homebody.

We should put all the mentally ill on a watchlist, so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

We should put all of the gun owners on a watchlist so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

Agree.

I would not want any of those people in my neighborhood.

Do you even hear yourself? We do have something along the lines of basic civil rights left in this country. While I do agree that dangerous people should not be allowed to hurt others, I am NOT ok with the government creating watch lists of people who their neighbors have decided are a little "weird" so they must be dangerous. Was this man convicted of any crimes before yesterday? I bet not. So what are your grounds for "tracking" him? Putting crazy stuff on the internet? Half of DCUM would be on this list.

How about harassing federal officials, abusing public resources with frivolous lawsuits, and stalking/making threats against his neighbors. This wasn’t just a quirky homebody.

We should put all the mentally ill on a watchlist, so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

We should put all of the gun owners on a watchlist so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

+100. And stop selling guns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

Agree.

I would not want any of those people in my neighborhood.

Do you even hear yourself? We do have something along the lines of basic civil rights left in this country. While I do agree that dangerous people should not be allowed to hurt others, I am NOT ok with the government creating watch lists of people who their neighbors have decided are a little "weird" so they must be dangerous. Was this man convicted of any crimes before yesterday? I bet not. So what are your grounds for "tracking" him? Putting crazy stuff on the internet? Half of DCUM would be on this list.

How about harassing federal officials, abusing public resources with frivolous lawsuits, and stalking/making threats against his neighbors. This wasn’t just a quirky homebody.

We should put all the mentally ill on a watchlist, so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

I think so too - it would avoid buying a house in the wrong place, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Beyond weird how giddy this man is after just witnessing a horrible explosion.

This guys reaction is very strange and I don't want to hear anything about shock--this ain't it. Something isn't right here.

He's high as a kite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in an area with lots of duplexes. We had one that had one side burn down and they rebuilt the one side. But obviously the other one was still there.

But i would think they could just rebuild half of it. Like this (different situation, but you can see it survives as half a house)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/09/08/dorchester-home-seeks-other-half/ZiuBnwzH63313rvQT1dIiJ/story.html

Interesting. I am guessing there is some sort of set back exemption for these lots since you build right up to the other person’s property line. Also, I would hope zoning would be flexible with this family if necessary.

Although part of me wonders if they want to go back at this point. It seems like a great location though (close to parks/trail/Ballston metro) and the market is tight. Aside from the schizophrenic neighbor it seems like a nice area to live.

A house down the street from my parents exploded due to a gas leak. It didn’t catch fire, and both occupants and their dog were not hurt. The house had to be demolished. It took years for insurance to settle, and the couple never returned. Eventually the lot was sold and the new owners reused the foundation to build a new house.

This is a far more traumatic situation-I can’t imagine ever feeling safe there again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

Agree.

I would not want any of those people in my neighborhood.

Do you even hear yourself? We do have something along the lines of basic civil rights left in this country. While I do agree that dangerous people should not be allowed to hurt others, I am NOT ok with the government creating watch lists of people who their neighbors have decided are a little "weird" so they must be dangerous. Was this man convicted of any crimes before yesterday? I bet not. So what are your grounds for "tracking" him? Putting crazy stuff on the internet? Half of DCUM would be on this list.

How about harassing federal officials, abusing public resources with frivolous lawsuits, and stalking/making threats against his neighbors. This wasn’t just a quirky homebody.

We should put all the mentally ill on a watchlist, so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

We should put all of the gun owners on a watchlist so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

Agree. It is no fun living next to someone who has mental issues AND guns. No thanks. It is enough to make one want to move house.

[Anonymous]

Imagine this neighborhood has been dealing with this guy for a long time. It’s sad all around. Thankful for the evacuations.

[Anonymous]

Police say his remains were found in the wreckage. He’s dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would never buy half of a duplex. Logistical nightmare.

That seems silly. So you would never buy a townhome or rowhouse? Because of a rare isolate incident with a crazy person? Do some research on the neighbors, and 99.99% of the time you will be fine. Don't buy a home adjacent to a house with covered up windows.

+1

Also, property owners are in the public record. Before making an offer, Google the people next to you to see if they post paranoid delusions.

Anyone with a mental illness should be put on a public watch-list, so home buyers can just google them, and avoid having to live near the mentally ill.

Agree.

I would not want any of those people in my neighborhood.

Do you even hear yourself? We do have something along the lines of basic civil rights left in this country. While I do agree that dangerous people should not be allowed to hurt others, I am NOT ok with the government creating watch lists of people who their neighbors have decided are a little "weird" so they must be dangerous. Was this man convicted of any crimes before yesterday? I bet not. So what are your grounds for "tracking" him? Putting crazy stuff on the internet? Half of DCUM would be on this list.

How about harassing federal officials, abusing public resources with frivolous lawsuits, and stalking/making threats against his neighbors. This wasn’t just a quirky homebody.

We should put all the mentally ill on a watchlist, so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

We should put all of the gun owners on a watchlist so the rest of us can choose whether or not to avoid them.

OMG, that would be fantastic! A dream come true, really.

Never again would I have to hear ignorant fools yammering about gun owners. They’d simply avoid us. It would be like you didn’t even exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Beyond weird how giddy this man is after just witnessing a horrible explosion.

This guys reaction is very strange and I don't want to hear anything about shock--this ain't it. Something isn't right here.

He's high as a kite.

His demeanor is oddly excited, and not in, "I'm glad to still be alive" sort of way.

Maybe he was super stoked to be on tv or something?