Full Notification

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.
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