Ax-, Knife-wielding Suspect Who Threatened Caltrans Crew Sought

MENLO PARK, CA —An ax- and knife-wielding man who threatened "to kill" Caltrans workers cleaning up trash on the Bayfront Expressway nearing the Dumbarton Bridge at midday Wednesday prompted the eastbound traffic to be diverted as officers searched for him, the Menlo Park Police Department reported. The roadway has since reopened.

The report on the 11:20 a.m. call initially referred to one of the weapons as a machete.

According to police, the man fled and ran into the marshlands off the expressway, which is also known as Highway 84. Officers set up a perimeter for the search and interviewed a few people in the area to no avail as of press time.

Menlo Park Fire Protection District flew its drone, but further attempts did not turn up the suspect.

Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman characterized the area along Bayfront Expressway as one of "lawlessness."

"It is a problem in there," he told Patch, adding fires and assaults break out in the homeless encampments often making for "dangerous" situations.

The suspect at large is described as a Hispanic male about 35 years old, standing 5-feet, 9 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds with short black hair and unshaven. He was seen wearing a gray T-shirt with the words "staff" on the back, along with blue jeans and black work boots.

A different suspect was taken into custody

During the police search, a man unrelated to the incident yelled at police and struck one of the officers in the face with a large tree branch. The officer suffered minor injuries, and that suspect was taken into custody. He's identified as Zeferino Suniga Diaz, 33, a transient.

Menlo Park Police is investigating the case and requests that if anyone has information regarding this case or witnessed this incident, to call the department at 650-330-6300 or use the anonymous tip hotline at 650-330-6395.