Man has 8 previous DUI arrests

NORTH ATTLEBORO (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston) - A North Attleboro man was arrested after forcing another car to swerve to avoid an accident while he was allegedly driving drunk in the wrong lane on Route 1.

John J. Michaelson, 68, who has been arrested eight times for drunken driving, was ordered held in jail without bail yesterday pending a dangerousness hearing this Friday in Attleboro District Court . Michaelson’s level of intoxication was allegedly twice the legal limit.

Michaelson’s record of drunken driving arrests began in 1971. Four of Michaelson’s arrests resulted in convictions.

Sunday night, an off-duty Walpole police officer saw Michaelson driving the wrong way on Route 1 in Plainville, heading toward North Attleboro. The officer immediately called police after he observed Michaelson swerve to avoid a head-on collision, and followed him with his hazards on. Police spotted Michaelson's black Cadillac swerving in and out of lanes and pulled him over.

Police say Michaelson smelled like alcohol and admitted to having four, five or six drinks. He fell several times trying to get out of the car, according to the police report, and during his field sobriety test. His BAC was .17.

Michaelson was held without bail and is facing a fifth OUI offense and 7th arrest on record. Michaelson's attorney says he's been sober for two years and his last offense was 13 years ago.