A Burnsville man who led Austin police on a roughly 16-block chase Monday night now faces three criminal charges.

Talian Manachan Omot, 18, is charged with fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a felony, as well as two lesser charges. He is scheduled for arraignment Dec. 17.

According to a criminal complaint, an officer on routine patrol saw Omot’s tan Chevrolet Impala, which was listed in relation to a recent theft at Apollo Liquor.

The officer initiated a traffic stop, but Omot drove off on Oakland Avenue West, going about 40 mph. He eventually turned onto 31st Street Southwest and attempted to drive into a parking spot at Mandolin Place Apartments, but the officer cut him off.

Omot and three other passengers were all cuffed. The driver, who had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, said he and his friends were “at a party” and that they convinced him to flee police.

Omot said he was the only sober one so he drove, but he later admitted to driving drunk. He also registered a .09 blood-alcohol level, which is over the legal limit for 21-year-old drivers.

Records indicate that Omot’s driving status was “suspended” at the time of the incident.