Police searching for 'armed and dangerous' man in Rochester, NH

ROCHESTER, N.H. — Police are searching for an "armed and dangerous" man in the woods in Rochester, according to the Rochester Police Department.

The department shut down reports of an active shooter in the area, and said businesses along Farmington Road were evacuated for safety.

UPDATED: SWAT teams still searching woods for suspect seen with rifle behind NH Walmart

Police said they received a report Sunday afternoon, saying a man who was armed with a rifle was seen in the rear parking lot of the Walmart on Farmington Road before disappearing into the woods.

Police said to avoid the area as they search for Thomas, and said they are looking in the woods behind the Walmart and Market Basket area.

"It’s definitely scary," Ariana Peabody said. "It’s too close to home. I'm sure it definitely was scary for them. Glad everybody got out okay and everybody's safe and back with their families right now."

Thomas is known to police, and Rochester Police said he has three warrants for criminal threatening, along with four warrants for theft.

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"We are familiar with the subject who we believe had been living out in the woods behind there," Rochester Police Captain Jason Thomas said. "We have active warrants out for him for criminal threatening and theft. We know he has a rifle, he was carrying it today, he may also have some pistols."

Thomas is being described as a man in his 20s with a beard, weighing about 160 pounds and standing at about 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

Cox Media Group