Matthew C. Wilber is being held in the Ada County Jail on felony counts of DUI and eluding arrest after police say he was intoxicated as he led officers on a short car pursuit late Friday in Northwest Boise that ended with his car crashed in the bank of a canal.

The 37-year-old Wilber is charged with a felony DUI because Friday’s arrest was his third DUI since 2006, according to Idaho Court records, which also show that Wilber got into car crashes when he was arrested for his previous DUI arrests

Wilber pleading guilty in 2010 in Ada County to misdemeanor counts of DUI and failure to notify upon striking fixtures on the highway. Wilber also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of failure to stop and report damage in connection with the same 2006 incident where he pleaded guilty to a DUI in Valley County, according to court records.

Boise police began their investigation around 11:30 p.m. Friday after getting a 911 call from someone who saw a car driving erratically and speeding near N. 28th Street and Hill Road. Officers arrived to find the car near 34th and Good streets. That’s when police say the driver, later identified as Wilber, sped up and tried to make several sharp turns to get away. Police say Wilber drove through a stop sign and was clocked going as fast as 80 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Police were trying to figure out whether to stop the pursuit for safety reasons when they say Wilber lost control of his car near the corner of Taft and 28th streets and drove into a chain link fence and then into the bank of a canal. When officers got to the car, Wilber was already out.

Police say Wilber smelled strongly of alcohol, had slurred speech, and appeared very intoxicated. Wilber refused to do field sobriety tests or consent to a breath test, so a blood sample was taken for later evidence testing after he was treated by paramedics, according to reports.

Wilber was then arrested and booked into the jail. Wilber is also charged with a misdemeanor count of driving without privileges.

Wilber will make his initial court appearance later Monday.

The crime of felony DUI is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The felony crime of fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer is punishable by the loss of all driving privileges for up to three years.