State v. Singleton, 1 CA-CR 16-0160

In April 2015, Taurice Singleton borrowed a neighbor's truck to pick up a box spring with his 5‑year‑old son sitting in the vehicle. Police had earlier spoken to the child at the truck while Singleton was in the store.
Officers ran Singleton’s information, learned his license was suspended, and returned to locate him. While driving, officers activated emergency lights and performed a U‑turn to follow Singleton.
At a red light the marked police car with activated lights stopped directly behind Singleton; when the light turned green Singleton drove off and traveled about a mile, obeying traffic laws and briefly triggering the officers’ siren twice.
Approximately three minutes after lights were first activated, Singleton pulled into a driveway near his home; officers arrested him. He admitted knowing his license was revoked and that officers were behind him, but said he delayed stopping to get his son to a safe place and testified he didn’t notice the officers until in his neighborhood.
Singleton was indicted for unlawful flight from a law enforcement vehicle (Class 5 felony), tried, convicted by a jury, given a suspended sentence and 18 months’ unsupervised probation, and appealed claiming insufficient evidence of willful flight.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether the State proved willful flight or attempt to elude under A.R.S. § 28‑622.01	The State: evidence (activated lights behind defendant, defendant drove away and was aware officers were behind him) supports willfulness.	Singleton: short pursuit, compliance with traffic laws, no evasive driving, and claimed lack of awareness of police negate willfulness.	Affirmed — substantial evidence supported willfulness; jury credibility determination stands.

State v. Large, 234 Ariz. 274 (discussing standard for overturning verdict based on insufficiency of evidence)
State v. Cornman, 237 Ariz. 350 (defining substantial evidence standard for jury verdicts)
State v. Carlisle, 198 Ariz. 203 (appellate review limited to absence of probative evidence)
State v. Lewis, 224 Ariz. 512 (finder‑of‑fact assesses witness credibility)
State v. Fogarty, 178 Ariz. 170 (affirming unlawful flight conviction despite slow, lawful driving and short pursuit)
State v. Gonzalez, 221 Ariz. 82 (affirming unlawful flight where pursuit was brief and speeds were low)
State v. Fiihr, 221 Ariz. 135 (similar unlawful flight precedent)
State v. Martinez, 230 Ariz. 382 (conviction upheld though officer discontinued pursuit after moments)
State v. Lopez, 209 Ariz. 58 (court views facts in light most favorable to sustaining jury verdict)