Man shot by S.B. County sheriff's deputies says he was not subject of search warrant

Rudy Silvain was at an elderly friend's home when San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies arrived Thursday afternoon to serve a search warrant.

Silvain, 20, who lives down the street from the home in the 17500 block of Pine Avenue, said he had been there only five minutes when the sheriff's helicopter began flying overhead about 4 p.m.

Silvain and the woman's granddaughter, Ramie Shaw, were talking near the garage when Fontana sheriff's deputies ordered them on the ground. They were complying when a pit bull reportedly ran out from between two homes and charged a deputy.

Silvain said he couldn't see the dog because he had both hands and one knee on the concrete.

"The dog -- I don't know where exactly the dog came from but I know it didn't come from behind me," Silvain said by phone Friday.

A sheriff's deputy fired at the dog but missed, hitting Silvain once in the upper leg, said Fontana police spokesman Jeff Decker.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers said Silvain's injuries were not life-threatening and that he and the dog were in very close proximity during the shooting.

Silvain said he was shot seven times, but Decker said that information is incorrect, according to the Fontana Police Department investigation.

"There was only one shot that was fired and they recovered the casing at the scene," Decker said.

After he was shot, Silvain said sheriff's deputies handcuffed him until the paramedics began treating him for his wounded leg.

He was transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center but discharged himself from the hospital late Thursday night.

Silvain said the only reason he was at the house was to check on the grandmother of his late friend, Rachel, on the two-year anniversary of Rachel's death.

Silvain still isn't sure why he was shot because he wasn't the target of the narcotics search warrant. He did admit to smoking marijuana earlier in the day and took a drug test at the hospital.

The pit bull was quarantined and taken away by Animal Control, said Decker.

Ramie Michelle Shaw, 22, was arrested on suspicion of possession of narcotics and booked at West Valley Detention Center.

Reach Julie Farren at 909-806-3066 or jfarren@PE.com