A Eureka man is in custody after he led police on a chase through city streets this morning, ramming into several stationary vehicles in an attempt to escape.

Capt. Brian Stephens of the Eureka Police Department tells the Outpost that Sean Ruther was eventually arrested at a parking lot of a business near the corner of Harris Street and Harrison Avenue, after a bit of struggle with officers.

The incident began, Stephens said, when police responded to alarm at a residence from with Ruther had recently been evicted. When they arrived, officers found Ruther sitting in his vehicle – a gold Toyota Highlander – in front of the residence.

Ruther drove off upon seeing the officers. They followed and attempted to pull him over near the intersection of Myrtle and West. Ruther declined to stop, instead fleeing toward the Highway 101 corridor.

As he was running away, the suspect crashed into several parked vehicles (see video above) near the corner of Fourth and O streets. Stephens says that the vehicles were unoccupied, and no one was injured.

The police called off the chase for safety, and because they already knew the identity of the suspect. Stephens told the Outpost that in recent months, police have frequently and increasingly been coming into contact with Ruther.

At around 1:23 p.m., the department received word that Ruther’s heavily damaged vehicle had been located at the parking lot. He was once again found with the vehicle, and was arrested.