This story was updated at 11:45 a.m. on March 23 — Ed.
A man suspected of assaulting his wife at their Vista home Wednesday is missing after holing up inside the residence when deputies arrived to question him about the alleged domestic violence, prompting a SWAT standoff for much of the day, authorities said.
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The alleged assault in the 300 block of Apollo Drive was reported shortly before 8:30 a.m., according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, which said the suspect, 50-year-old Walter Kuchinsky, hit his estranged wife and threatened her with a gun.
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On Wednesday, deputies said Kuchinsky was outside the home when they arrived, as was his wife, and he ran inside. At that point, law enforcement evacuated the other occupants in the house, believed to include the couple's grandchildren, and surrounded the home.
"While continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, deputies learned the man was wanted on various gun charges," deputies said in a statement issued later on Wednesday.
After the suspect failed for about 90 minutes to respond to deputies' orders to exit the home and surrender, they called in special weapons and tactics personnel to take up positions around it, the sergeant said.
Several neighboring residences were evacuated as a precaution as the situation unfolded.
The standoff ended around 2:30 p.m. when deputies discovered the suspect was not inside the home, sheriff's Sgt. Matthew Carpenter said. Officials have not disclosed how Kuchinsky was able to elude arrest.
Kuchinsky is a white man who is a little over six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes, and was seen wearing a hat, red-and-black flannel shirt and khaki pants. Investigators said he should be considered armed and dangerous, and the public should call 911 if he's spotted.
Anyone with information about Kuchinsky's whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tips can be called in anonymously. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
