FAIRMONT — A St. James man is facing a felony charge in Martin County.

Ricardo Alvear II, 23, has been charged with fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, which carries a maximum penalty of three years and one day in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On June 21, a Fairmont police officer took a phone call from an individual concerned about someone driving erratically. The driver was reportedly seen driving west on Lake Avenue in Fairmont in a black Chevrolet Equinox.

Another officer spoke with another individual who indicated the same male driver had stopped twice near a residence in the 200 block of Webster Street in Fairmont and had been driving erratically.

The second individual said the driver smelled of alcohol and was inquiring about fishing spots in Fairmont. The individual said he advised the man to go to the George Lake dam.

Officers were traveling to the George Lake dam when they were advised there was a vehicle matching the description heading back toward town. An officer observed the vehicle pass him and turned around to follow the vehicle, activating his emergency lights.

The officer observed the vehicle turn east onto Fourth street at a speed that appeared to be over the posted speed limit. The officer pursued the vehicle, and the vehicle continued toward Downtown Plaza, turning north. The officer activated his siren and observed the vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign as it continued to speed away, as it reached approximately 72 mph.

The vehicle continued to turn onto other streets and failed to stop at additional stop signs. Eventually, the driver slowed to a stop and the driver placed his hands outside of the open driver’s window. Without being so instructed, the driver exited the vehicle with his hands raised in the air.

The driver, later identified as Alvear, was placed under arrest. The officer observed an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Alvear.

A check on Alvear’s license shows his privilege to drive in Minnesota is revoked. Alvear was transported to the Martin County Jail.

At the jail, the officer administered field sobriety tests on Alvear who said, unprompted, that he was drunk and an alcoholic.

Alvear was advised of his rights and said he understood. Alvear admitted to consuming alcohol before driving and admitted to fleeing police when he observed the officer’s squad vehicle lights.

A check of Alvear’s criminal history shows a conviction for driving while impaired on Dec. 21, 2017.