OPINION
STEWART, Judge.
A University of Alaska police officer stopped a vehicle as it turned off Benson Boulevard into a store's parking lot because the vehicle did not have its headlights illuminated. The officer mistakenly believed that the vehicle was operating in violation of 18 AAC 04.010(a)(1), the regulation that requires a vehicle to have headlights illuminated one-half hour after sunset. In fact, sunset had occurred less than fifteen minutes beforehand.
The officer activated his patrol car's emer-geney lights. Instead of stopping, David Seott Campbell drove through the parking lot, across Northern Lights Boulevard, finally stopping off the road and leaving his vehicle. The officer arrested him shortly thereafter.
The State indicted Campbell for first-degree eluding a police officer. 1 The State also added four misdemeanor charges by informa[1172]*1172tion: driving while under the influence,2 resisting or interfering with arrest, 3 fifth-degree criminal mischief, 4 and improper use of registration or title. 5
Campbell moved to suppress, arguing that he was illegally stopped. Superior Court Judge John E. Suddock held an evidentiary hearing on the motion and suppressed the State's evidence. We uphold the superior court's ruling for the reasons below.
Background facts and proceedings
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Police Officer Scott Chafin testified that he contacted a dispatcher on June 4, 2005, at about 11:00 p.m: to find out "what time sunset was." He recalled that the dispatcher informed him that sunset was "somewhere around" 10:26 p.m.
Officer Chafin went to the University Center on Old Seward Highway to perform a security check of the UAA premises there. He left the area around 11:20 p.m. He then stopped a car on New Seward Highway for not having its headlights on. After concluding the stop with a verbal warning, Chafin stopped another car for not having its headlights illuminated. Campbell's vehicle was the third that Chafin intended to stop for not having its headlights illuminated.
When Officer Chafin turned on his emer-geney lights, Campbell was turning from Benson Boulevard into the Fred Meyer parking lot. Campbell did not stop but drove across the parking lot as Officer Chafin followed with his lights and siren activated. Campbell drove over the curb on the north side of the parking lot, across the four lanes of Northern Lights Boulevard, and over the curb on the north side of Northern Lights Boulevard, where he stopped. When Chafin stopped his patrol car, Campbell got out of his vehicle and ran to the fence.
The State presented no evidence on why dispatch provided Officer Chafin with faulty sunset information. Although the University Police Department had a system to record radio traffic, the system was apparently inoperative.
Judge Suddock found that the State failed to establish that the misinformation about the time of sunset resulted from "excusable neglect." Judge Suddock also found no evidence that Cambell had endangered anyone, put anyone at risk, or engaged in any outrageous conduct. He granted the motion to suppress, primarily relying on Castle v. State. 6
The State moved for reconsideration and asked to present additional evidence. Judge Suddock denied reconsideration, pointing out that the State's motion failed to discuss his analysis of the evidence, which found that Campbell had a brief failure to stop followed by a minor traffic offense with no attendant risk to the public.
The State then filed a "supplemental" motion for reconsideration, again asking to reopen the evidentiary hearing to present additional evidence. Judge Suddock allowed the State to recall Officer Chafin for additional testimony.
At the conclusion of Officer Chafin's additional testimony, Judge Suddock found that Campbell's driving as he turned into the parking lot from Benson Boulevard did not arouse suspicion. He found that Campbell accelerated up to thirty miles per hour in the lot and then slowed down before going across the four lanes of Northern Lights Boulevard and stopping on the sidewalk. He found that no other vehicle had to take evasive action and that no third party was subjected to any risk by Campbell's driving. Judge Suddock ruled that Campbell was subjected to an illegal stop. He further ruled that Campbell's conduct, a direct response to the fllegal stop, did not create a risk of danger to third [1173]*1173persons even though Campbell violated the law. Accordingly, he suppressed the State's evidence.
Discussion
The State first argues that Officer Chafin's attempt to stop Campbell was valid because the officer reasonably believed that he observed a traffic violation and acted in good faith in stopping Campbell. Essentially, the State argues that Chafin had probable cause to believe that Campbell was violating 13 AAC 04.010(a)(1) because his headlights were off.7 The State also attacks several of Judge Suddock's factual findings.
Whether an officer has probable cause for a traffic stop is a mixed question of fact and law. 8 We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling and overturn the court's factual findings only if we are convinced that the findings are clearly erroneous. 9 We review de novo whether the historical facts found by the trial court establish probable cause." 10
For an officer to have probable cause, the officer must have reasonably trustworthy information sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an offense has been or is being committed.11
Officer Chafin's information on the time of sunset was wrong. In the superior court, the State stipulated that on June 4, 2005, sunset occurred at approximately 11:25 p.m. Judge Suddock found that the range of error between the actual sunset (11:25 p.m.) and the time of sunset Officer Chafin said dispatch provided to him went beyond "excusable neglect."
We interpret Judge Suddock's decision to mean that he found that Officer Chafin's belief concerning the time of sunset was unreasonable. The record amply supports Judge Suddock's finding.
Officer Chafin testified that he called his dispatcher around 11:00 p.m. to ask when sunset was. As we have explained, the parties stipulated that sunset that day (June 4, 2005) was at 11:25 p.m. In other words, the sun was above the horizon for almost half an hour after Officer Chafin spoke to his dispatcher.
According to Officer Chafin, his dispatcher told him that the sun had already set-that sunset had occurred "somewhere around" 10:26 p.m. (In the State's memorandum to the trial court, the State asserted that Chafin believed that sunset occurred at 10:24 p.m. or 10:26 p.m.) But Chafin himself testified that the evening of June 4th was a "very nice" evening and that the streetlights had not yet been turned on when he made the traffic stop of Campbell some thirty minutes later.
We also take judicial notice that, in the spring of 2005, the last time that the sun set as early as 10:26 pm. was on May 9th-almost four weeks before the stop in this case. 12
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OPINION
STEWART, Judge.
A University of Alaska police officer stopped a vehicle as it turned off Benson Boulevard into a store's parking lot because the vehicle did not have its headlights illuminated. The officer mistakenly believed that the vehicle was operating in violation of 18 AAC 04.010(a)(1), the regulation that requires a vehicle to have headlights illuminated one-half hour after sunset. In fact, sunset had occurred less than fifteen minutes beforehand.
The officer activated his patrol car's emer-geney lights. Instead of stopping, David Seott Campbell drove through the parking lot, across Northern Lights Boulevard, finally stopping off the road and leaving his vehicle. The officer arrested him shortly thereafter.
The State indicted Campbell for first-degree eluding a police officer. 1 The State also added four misdemeanor charges by informa[1172]*1172tion: driving while under the influence,2 resisting or interfering with arrest, 3 fifth-degree criminal mischief, 4 and improper use of registration or title. 5
Campbell moved to suppress, arguing that he was illegally stopped. Superior Court Judge John E. Suddock held an evidentiary hearing on the motion and suppressed the State's evidence. We uphold the superior court's ruling for the reasons below.
Background facts and proceedings
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Police Officer Scott Chafin testified that he contacted a dispatcher on June 4, 2005, at about 11:00 p.m: to find out "what time sunset was." He recalled that the dispatcher informed him that sunset was "somewhere around" 10:26 p.m.
Officer Chafin went to the University Center on Old Seward Highway to perform a security check of the UAA premises there. He left the area around 11:20 p.m. He then stopped a car on New Seward Highway for not having its headlights on. After concluding the stop with a verbal warning, Chafin stopped another car for not having its headlights illuminated. Campbell's vehicle was the third that Chafin intended to stop for not having its headlights illuminated.
When Officer Chafin turned on his emer-geney lights, Campbell was turning from Benson Boulevard into the Fred Meyer parking lot. Campbell did not stop but drove across the parking lot as Officer Chafin followed with his lights and siren activated. Campbell drove over the curb on the north side of the parking lot, across the four lanes of Northern Lights Boulevard, and over the curb on the north side of Northern Lights Boulevard, where he stopped. When Chafin stopped his patrol car, Campbell got out of his vehicle and ran to the fence.
The State presented no evidence on why dispatch provided Officer Chafin with faulty sunset information. Although the University Police Department had a system to record radio traffic, the system was apparently inoperative.
Judge Suddock found that the State failed to establish that the misinformation about the time of sunset resulted from "excusable neglect." Judge Suddock also found no evidence that Cambell had endangered anyone, put anyone at risk, or engaged in any outrageous conduct. He granted the motion to suppress, primarily relying on Castle v. State. 6
The State moved for reconsideration and asked to present additional evidence. Judge Suddock denied reconsideration, pointing out that the State's motion failed to discuss his analysis of the evidence, which found that Campbell had a brief failure to stop followed by a minor traffic offense with no attendant risk to the public.
The State then filed a "supplemental" motion for reconsideration, again asking to reopen the evidentiary hearing to present additional evidence. Judge Suddock allowed the State to recall Officer Chafin for additional testimony.
At the conclusion of Officer Chafin's additional testimony, Judge Suddock found that Campbell's driving as he turned into the parking lot from Benson Boulevard did not arouse suspicion. He found that Campbell accelerated up to thirty miles per hour in the lot and then slowed down before going across the four lanes of Northern Lights Boulevard and stopping on the sidewalk. He found that no other vehicle had to take evasive action and that no third party was subjected to any risk by Campbell's driving. Judge Suddock ruled that Campbell was subjected to an illegal stop. He further ruled that Campbell's conduct, a direct response to the fllegal stop, did not create a risk of danger to third [1173]*1173persons even though Campbell violated the law. Accordingly, he suppressed the State's evidence.
Discussion
The State first argues that Officer Chafin's attempt to stop Campbell was valid because the officer reasonably believed that he observed a traffic violation and acted in good faith in stopping Campbell. Essentially, the State argues that Chafin had probable cause to believe that Campbell was violating 13 AAC 04.010(a)(1) because his headlights were off.7 The State also attacks several of Judge Suddock's factual findings.
Whether an officer has probable cause for a traffic stop is a mixed question of fact and law. 8 We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's ruling and overturn the court's factual findings only if we are convinced that the findings are clearly erroneous. 9 We review de novo whether the historical facts found by the trial court establish probable cause." 10
For an officer to have probable cause, the officer must have reasonably trustworthy information sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an offense has been or is being committed.11
Officer Chafin's information on the time of sunset was wrong. In the superior court, the State stipulated that on June 4, 2005, sunset occurred at approximately 11:25 p.m. Judge Suddock found that the range of error between the actual sunset (11:25 p.m.) and the time of sunset Officer Chafin said dispatch provided to him went beyond "excusable neglect."
We interpret Judge Suddock's decision to mean that he found that Officer Chafin's belief concerning the time of sunset was unreasonable. The record amply supports Judge Suddock's finding.
Officer Chafin testified that he called his dispatcher around 11:00 p.m. to ask when sunset was. As we have explained, the parties stipulated that sunset that day (June 4, 2005) was at 11:25 p.m. In other words, the sun was above the horizon for almost half an hour after Officer Chafin spoke to his dispatcher.
According to Officer Chafin, his dispatcher told him that the sun had already set-that sunset had occurred "somewhere around" 10:26 p.m. (In the State's memorandum to the trial court, the State asserted that Chafin believed that sunset occurred at 10:24 p.m. or 10:26 p.m.) But Chafin himself testified that the evening of June 4th was a "very nice" evening and that the streetlights had not yet been turned on when he made the traffic stop of Campbell some thirty minutes later.
We also take judicial notice that, in the spring of 2005, the last time that the sun set as early as 10:26 pm. was on May 9th-almost four weeks before the stop in this case. 12
For all of these reasons, the record supports Judge Suddock's finding that, if Officer Chafin believed that the sun had set more than thirty minutes before he turned on his emergency lights and siren, Chafin's belief was unreasonable. Therefore, Chafin's actions in directing Campbell to stop constituted an illegal seizure.
We next turn to the issue of whether the exclusionary rule bars evidence of Campbell's violations after the illegal seizure. In Castle, the defendant was a passenger in a [1174]*1174vehicle stopped by the police who walked away from the scene of the stop after the officer ordered him to remain and wait to be interviewed. 13 The officer chased, caught, and subdued Castle. 14 A search of Castle's pockets yielded several baggies of cocaine. 15 The State argued that even if the officer had no justification for ordering Castle to stay at the seene to be interviewed, Castle's violation of a municipal ordinance by running in the street during his flight gave the officer grounds to arrest him.16
We rejected the State's argument and held as follows:
When a defendant commits a crime in response to an illegal search or seizure, the policy of the exclusionary rule-society's interest in deterring police misconduct-must govern any decision whether to admit or suppress evidence of the defendant's crime. 17
Although the discussion of this principle in Castle referred to the application of the exclusionary rule as enforcing "Fourth Amendment" rights, in Joseph v. State, 18 we recognized that Castle necessarily rested on state law grounds because, in California v. Hodari D., 19 the United States Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment was not violated in the situation presented in Castle. 20
We analyzed three cases from other jurisdictions in Castle: State v. Alexander, 21 People v. Felton, 22 and People v. Cantor. 23 In each of those cases, the court applied the exclusionary rule to suppress evidence of a defendant's crime occurring after the police unlawfully attempted to seize the defendant.24
The circumstances in Alexander parallel this case closely. When Alexander failed to stop at a roadblock designed to catch intoxicated drivers, an officer gave chase, pulled Alexander over, and arrested him for driving under the influence of intoxicants.25 The trial court refused to suppress the evidence because Alexander failed to stop at the direction of the police officer.26
The Vermont Supreme Court recognized that defendants are not normally entitled to suppression of evidence that they assaulted police officers or engaged in life-threatening behavior, such as an attempt to escape at high speed in response to an illegal search or seizure.27 But the court recognized that if the defendant's conduct in failing to stop was treated as a distinct crime not subject to the exclusionary rule, "the goal of the exclusionary rule, controlling police misconduct, [would] not be served. 28 The Vermont court therefore held that Alexander did not forfeit his right to litigate the illegal seizure claim. 29
In this case, Judge Suddock considered Castle and compared the facts in Campbell's case to those in Alexander. Judge Suddock found that Campbell's actions were a direct response to the illegal stop. The judge ree-ognized that Campbell did not immediately stop, but continued driving away from Officer Chafin for up to eight seconds and for a distance of approximately one hundred yards. He found that no other vehicle had to take evasive action and that no third party [1175]*1175was subjected to any risk by Campbell's driving or failure to stop.
Although application of the exclusionary rule allows Campbell to evade responsibility for his misconduct, Judge Suddock could reasonably conclude that society's interest in prosecuting Campbell was outweighed by the interest of deterring police misconduct and maintaining judicial integrity that follows from application of the exelusionary rule. We uphold Judge Suddock's decision to suppress the evidence.
Conclusion
The judgment of the superior court is AFFIRMED.