AnonymousDangerous Felon Evades Warrant — Causes Serous Accident — Leads to Arrest by SBPD
On January 17th at approximately 12:10 P.M. Santa Barbara Police Detectives attempted to serve a search and felony arrest warrant on Santa Barbara resident Ricardo Sanchez, age 36, in the 200 block of West Micheltorena Street.
Upon seeing police, Sanchez fled the scene in a vehicle. In an attempt to elude capture, the suspect rammed a police vehicle and accelerated toward a detective who was on foot. The detective jumped out of the way of the vehicle to avoid being struck.
Detectives followed in pursuit of Sanchez with lights and siren while Sanchez continued to evade arrest. Approximately six blocks from the initial contact, Sanchez, traveling eastbound on Victoria, failed to yield to a red light at the intersection of Victoria and Santa Barbara Streets.
The suspect’s vehicle struck a vehicle in the intersection which had been traveling northbound on Santa Barbara Street. Sanchez’ vehicle then continued onto the sidewalk of the northeast corner of the intersection and struck two pedestrians. The two victims, a female adult and a child, were injured.
With complete disregard for the injured victims, Sanchez quickly exited his vehicle and ran from the scene. He was apprehended in the 1300 Block of Garden Street after attempting to conceal himself in an apartment complex. He was taken into custody without further incident.
The two pedestrian victims were alert at the scene and transported to Cottage Hospital. The other driver did not sustain serious injuries.
Sanchez’ pending charges include: attempted murder of a police officer; assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer; resisting arrest; possession of a controlled substance for sale; reckless driving causing great bodily injury; felon in possession of ammunition; felon in possession of pepper spray; felony hit and run with injury; felony vandalism and potentially other charges as the investigation remains ongoing.
Car chase and pedestrian hit near Mason Street? I’m getting 2nd hand reports of a car chase and stroller hit. Any news? I’m just wanting to hear everyone is okay.
This happened at Victoria and Santa Barbara. I didn’t see it but heard it and ran outside. From what I could piece together, it was a high speed chase and the guy totaled another car while blowing through the intersection (the other driver got out and looked alright), flew up on the curb and almost took out a woman with a baby in her stroller (they looked okay too), and then I think he fled on foot (caught a glimpse of someone running away at the end of the street by the time I made it outside with police in apparent pursuit down both streets). Fingers crossed everyone affected isn’t seriously injured and they catch the guy. Assuming it was a guy – didn’t get a good look before they were around the corner a long block away.
Oh yes, let’s blame the police….not the person that endangered all individuals in our community potentially affected by this criminal. Beat it Kook.
It’s not “blaming the police,” it’s seeing risks for what they are – police pursuits are a danger to the public 100% of the time in an area like downtown (and arguably in most areas.) Just because a criminal makes the wrong choice by running, doesn’t mean the police have to chase them every time. Location location location.
Pretty quick to judge people. How long did the chase last? It’s very likely it wasn’t a long pursuit but rather the perp panicking and taking off and causing the accident. I don’t believe SB police has a reputation of pursuing at high speeds within city limits. The only sure take away from this is this guy has some poor judgment and endangered the community.
Noozhawk has the story and photos, and it says that a woman and infant were struck. Scary pic of an abandoned stroller with baby socks and mama’s shoes and socks on the ground in front of it!
The guy had a warrant and he ran from police there was a pursuit, a crash and a woman and a baby in a stroller was injured I was gone today taking care of personal business for acouple hours and missed it. Sorry.
Roger – Thanks for the additional information on the suspect.
I read it somewhere else.. but OK 🙂
Nowhere near Mason St. According to Nixle report the guy is Ricardo Sanchez, age 36. The photo shown on Noozhawk shows the SE corner of Santa Barbara and Victoria Sts. intersection. (Cattycorner to the pawn shop, across the street from the neighborhood store.) It all started when police tried to serve a felony warrant, Sanchez got into his vehicle and proceeded to ram a police car. Then he “accelerated” toward and nearly mowed down a police officer (officer jumped out of the way). Six blocks later he ran a red light and his vehicle collided with a driver/vehicle heading north on Santa Barbara St. This collision caused him/vehicle to veer onto the sidewalk, where his vehicle hit two pedestrians (woman and child). Sanchez got out, ran off and was caught in the 1300 block of Garden St.*************** Sanchez’ pending charges include: attempted murder of a police officer; assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer; resisting arrest; possession of a controlled substance for sale; reckless driving causing great bodily injury; felon in possession of ammunition; felon in possession of pepper spray; felony hit and run with injury; felony vandalism and potentially other charges as the investigation remains ongoing.
It was a police pursuit that culminated in horrible accident at Santa Barbara St and Victoria.
Grandmother walking granddaughter in stroller involved but looked like they will be okay although they were taken to hospital. Not sure if they were hit by debris or ?
POLICE PURSUITS ENDANGER THE PUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There could easily be a dead baby and grandmother right now not to mention the people in the other vehicles that crashed badly. I sure hope that police had reason to believe the perp was a huge danger to the public to put us all at risk like that.
Well THAT couldn’t have gone any worse! A simple, routine assignment and the SBPD duffed it again. City better brace for a lawsuit after that one.
You are so wrong! The police were chasing a felon who had attempted to flee after hitting a police car and aiming for another police man on foot. A felon who was a DANGER to this community. Why blame the police when, in fact, the felon should be blamed. Maybe this PC gone awry again.
ON this matter , you are very, very wrong-headed. Blame the felon who is a danger to the community.
Do NOT blame the police! If you need to blame, then blame the dangerous felon. The police put their lives on the line all the time. PC is gone awry in this community.
Memo to local armchair journalists: do not automatically turn perpetrators into victims.
To say the runner made a bad choice is an understatement. With ammunition and pepper spray he probably was a danger to others. Certainly was on his get-away try. Doesn’t say it was a “high speed” chase.
“attempted murder of a police officer; assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer; resisting arrest; possession of a controlled substance for sale; reckless driving causing great bodily injury; felon in possession of ammunition; felon in possession of pepper spray; felony hit and run with injury”
This guy is going away for a lonnnng time.