SAN DIMAS — A man accused of threatening passing strangers with a rifle and a knife remained at large Thursday after a SWAT team surrounded his home but found he was not there, authorities said.
Freddy Silva, 31, was being sought on suspicion assault with a deadly weapon, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Craig Boyett said.
Deputies received a call shortly before 7 p.m. reporting two men and a woman walking in the 600 block of Baseline Road had been threatened and chased by an armed man.
“The suspect allegedly aimed a rifle at three adult victims, then chased them on foot while making threats and holding a knife,” Boyett said in a written statement. “The suspect was last seen entering his residence on Baseline Road.”
Detectives worked with the victims to identify Silva as the suspect, he said. Deputies contacted him via telephone, but he refused to surrender.
Believing Silva was possibly barricaded inside his home, officials summoned a SWAT team to help, Boyett said.
Deputies ultimately made their way into the home, however Silva was not there.
The motivation for Silva’s alleged strange and violent behavior was not clear, Boyett said. He did not appear to know the victims at all.
Silva is described as Latino, 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 210 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s San Dimas Station at 909-450-2700.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department