thetruthaboutfrank.com

Saturday, March 15th, 2008.  Just after 9 pm.  Frank and Jacquellyn White are on their way to the grocery store, talking, going over their list one more time.  They are driving down the road when all of the sudden a car comes out of a parking lot and almost hits them.  Frank has to swerve in order to avoid a collision.  The two of them think “Phew! That was close!”  But then, the offending car falls in behind them and begins honking and driving dangerously close to their car.

Since Frank is a San Diego police officer all kinds of things are running through their minds.  Who is in this car?  Local gang members on a Saturday night terrorizing spree?  Could this be people out for revenge against Frank for someone he has helped put behind bars?  They cannot see into the vehicle; it’s like a bad horror movie only they are living it.

Frank thinks that if he pulls into a parking lot the angry driver will lose interest and pass them by, which it does, briefly.  However, the driver crosses three lanes of traffic to chase them down.  Frank tells Jacquellyn to call 9-1-1.  This scares her because she is also in law enforcement, a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and knows that line is reserved for life and death emergencies.  She calls to report on the car that is “road-raging” on them. 

Once in the parking lot, the driver continues their aggressive driving, revving their engine, squealing their tires, and pinning Frank in his car by blocking the driver side door with their car.  At this time, the Whites can see that it is an enraged female driver, who is cursing and yelling at them. 

Frank pulls out his firearm, identifies himself as a police officer, and tells her to stop.  Unaffected, Rachel Leann Silva does not stop.  Instead she reverses her car and rams into the White’s car.  Fearing for his life and the life of his wife, Frank then fires on Rachel Silva.

Both Rachel Silva and Jacquellyn White are on the phone with 9-1-1 dispatchers.  Finally able to exit his vehicle, Frank White gives Silva verbal commands to turn off her car and exit her vehicle.  Still yelling, she refuses, saying she’s been shot and so has her son.  Neither Frank nor Jacquellyn White ever saw Johnny Silva.  Oceanside police officers arrive at the scene almost immediately.

*Most of this is right in Rachel Silva’s official arrest warrant. (PDF file opens in a new window)

Some of the White’s state of mind is provided here to give you the true version of events instead of all the speculation.  I spoke to my sister, Jacquellyn on Sunday March 16th before dawn.  It was one of those phone calls you receive in the still dark hours when someone has terrible news.  I am forever grateful to Frank for saving their lives that horrible night.