Man who fired gun during wild police chase gets two years for Arlington crimes

A man who led police on a wild, high-speed chase involving gunfire and damage to numerous vehicles has been sentenced to two years of active incarceration.

Ricardo Singleton, 29, was sentenced in Arlington County Circuit Court to a maximum of 15 years in prison last week. However, 13 of the years will be suspended unless Singleton violates the terms of his probation during a five-year period, according to court records.

Singleton’s time behind bars for his Arlington crimes of eluding police and shooting a firearm from a vehicle could be substantially less than two years. Attorneys previously said he would receive credit for time served since his arrest almost two years ago.

A judge ordered a mental health evaluation to be conducted after Singleton agreed to a plea bargain in March.

“Mr. Singleton, who had no prior criminal history, started his day on October 6, 2022 by asking law enforcement for help,” Singleton’s attorney, Adam Krischer, said in a statement. “We are grateful to the Arlington Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the Court for recognizing that Mr. Singleton’s actions were the direct result of a serious mental illness.

“We are also grateful to Arlington County Police, Fairfax County Police and the Virginia State Police for the restraint they showed throughout their interaction with Mr. Singleton on that day.”

Singleton still faces several weightier charges in Fairfax County: two counts of malicious assault of law enforcement, one count of attempted malicious assault to law enforcement, and one count of using a firearm in commission of a felony.

He was taken into custody following a high-speed chase down Route 50 that ended in the West Falls Church area of Fairfax County.

According to court records, Singleton had been approached by a sheriff’s deputy outside of the Arlington County courthouse after reportedly making an illegal U-turn. Singleton then brandished a firearm, police said, before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.

Later that day, authorities spotted a vehicle of the same description in Arlington. Responding officers chased the vehicle down Route 50, through Arlington and into West Falls Church, where Singleton struck a large number of vehicles, police said.

Singleton has admitted to firing multiple shots from his driver’s side window during that chase.

Bystander video taken at the intersection of Route 50 and Graham Road in Fairfax County shows Singleton getting out of his vehicle and aiming a firearm in the direction of officers while running through the roadway. Muzzle flashes are seen and gunshots are heard.

Singleton was apprehended by authorities behind the Bestway Supermarket at 3109 Graham Road after his gun reportedly jammed.

He is expected to appear for a plea hearing for his Fairfax County charges on Oct. 16.