South Sacramento Police Chase: Suspect Arrested After Collision with Cop Car
SOUTH SACRAMENTO, CA — MARCH 8TH 2026 — “Last night at approximately 9pm, Deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Central Patrol Division observed a vehicle committing several traffic violations near 15th Avenue and 42nd Street in South Sacramento.
image from scene – courtesy of scso
Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver, 33-year-old Ricky Harding, chose not to stop and led Deputies on a vehicle pursuit.
During the pursuit, Harding turned off his headlights in an attempt to recklessly conceal his vehicle in the darkness. While driving southbound on 43rd Street, he drove through a stop sign at 8th Avenue and collided with an uninvolved Sacramento Police Department patrol vehicle. The police vehicle was forced into a residential fence due to the collision, and Harding’s vehicle subsequently caught fire.
Instead of surrendering, Harding exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but he was quickly apprehended by deputies.
The Sacramento City Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the vehicle fire.
Fortunately, the Sacramento Police officer involved in the collision was not injured. Harding was medically cleared at a local hospital and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on multiple charges, including evasion, obstruction and hit and run.
He is being held on $500,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 10.
California law classifies his offenses as “non-violent,” therefore his booking photo is not available for public release.”
