A Big Prairie man pleaded guilty Thursday, Dec. 15 to fleeing from police in a pickup truck while he was intoxicated.

Brian K. Searles, 37, of 7911 state Route 514, pleaded to one count of DUI and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.

The charges stem from July 3, when an Ohio State Patrol trooper was checking speed by radar on County Road 23. The trooper clocked Searles at 51 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. Searles stopped for the trooper, but then fled.

Searles led the trooper on a chase onto Township Road 208.

The chase ended when Searles voluntarily stopped the truck. At the time of the chase, two persons were riding in the back of the pickup.

According to assistant prosecuting attorney Chris Oehl, Searles told the trooper he ran because he did not have a valid license and was drinking.

“At the time (of his arrest) Searles made several admissions and said he was scared and was trying to ditch” the trooper, Oehl said. “He appeared genuinely remorseful and apologized several times.”

Searles has a total of seven DUI convictions dating back to 1991, Oehl said.

Speaking before Rinfret Thursday, Searles said he has been under a license suspension since “2008 or 2009.”

Searles said the arrest has led him to acknowledge the fact that he has a drinking problem.

“It shows I have an alcohol problem,” Searles said. “I’ve been through alcohol counseling. I didn’t think I have a problem but I do have a problem.”

Rinfret ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for Feb. 2, 2012.

The DUI charge carries up to 30 months in prison. Failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer is a first degree misdemeanor and carries up to 180 days in jail.