Social media star arrested after police standoff
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- A social media star was arrested after making threats, posting messages on social media and holding Virginia police at bay for hours.
Charlottesville Police arrived to the home of Bryan Silva, 25, after receiving a call for a disturbance. Silva became web-famous for his Vine videos with hundreds of thousands of followers. Investigators say a neighbor made the call after Silva's 17-year-old girlfriend escaped from the house.
"We got a call here this morning, shortly after 6 o'clock, for a disturbance, it was a domestic disturbance," Chief Tim Longo with the Charlottesville Police said. "A female caller said she was threatened with a firearm."
When officers arrived, Silva refused to come out.
While he barricaded himself inside, he posted a message to Facebook, writing "SHE BETRAYED ME". He also posted a video just before he surrendered to police that showed him yelling, dancing and drinking what appeared to be alcohol.
"He definitely wants to be a public figure and is a public figure and he has like a million followers on Facebook and a Vine sensation and all of that," a neighbor said.
Police were able to finally subdue Silva after they launched a chemical irritant inside the home.
"Fortunately, by the grace of God this ended peacefully," Longo added.
