A man was arrested Saturday afternoon after leading law enforcement on a brief pursuit through a Graham County neighborhood, according to the Graham County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies reported that around 12:30 p.m., an officer on routine patrol near Mount Graham Market observed a man riding a black-and-white four-wheeler westbound on State Route 366. Upon noticing the patrol vehicle, the man allegedly made a sudden turn onto Navajo Drive and began accelerating, prompting the deputy to follow.
The situation escalated when the deputy activated emergency lights and sirens, but ATV driver continued driving, failing to stop at a posted stop sign and reaching speeds estimated between 45 and 50 mph. The pursuit continued through residential streets, where the ATV reportedly fishtailed and kicked up dirt and debris before coming to a stop near Cheyenne Drive and State Route 366.
The man was taken into custody without further incident. During questioning, he told deputies he did not see or hear the patrol vehicle’s lights or sirens. Authorities noted that he later agreed to field sobriety testing, which did not indicate impairment.
Investigators believe the suspect may have attempted to avoid contact due to issues related to vehicle registration, insurance, or licensing, though the man denied those claims.
The ATV was impounded, and the driver was transported to the Graham County Adult Detention Facility, where he was booked on a charge of unlawful flight from law enforcement.
