Driver in Michigan does splits during field sobriety test. It didn't help

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A Michigan man suspected of drunken driving tried to show police officers he was sober with his best impersonation of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, doing the splits during a sobriety field test Sept. 19.

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It didn't work for Michael Joseph Axelson, 53, of Madison Heights.

"That's very impressive. Stand up for me, OK?" a Sterling Heights police officer can be heard on his dashcam, posted by WJBK, after Axelson executed his athletic move, the Detroit Free Press reported.

When police finally got Axelson to complete a Breathalyzer test -- it took five times before police got a clean reading -- his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.21, nearly three times over the legal limit of 0.08 in Michigan, WDIV reported,

That resulted in his eighth citation for drunken driving, the television station reported.

According to police Lt. Mario Bastianelli, Axelson was driving a white van when he was pulled over at 1:15 a.m. Sept. 19.

Axelson agreed to take a field sobriety test.

"Do you have any issues with your legs, any injuries, anything like that?" the officer can be heard on the dashcam video.

"I don't think so. I can go like this," Axelson said, doing the split.

Axelson was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license, the Free Press reported. He was later released after posting $5,000 bail, the newspaper reported.

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