A man suspected of drunk driving attempted a desperate and rather amusing tactic to avoid arrest.
As he was pulled over for speeding the driver hatched a plan to switch places with his dog.
The Springfield, Colorado driver was allegedly doing 52mph in a 30mph zone when he got pulled over by cops and made his dog switch places with him.
"The driver attempted to switch places with his dog who was in the passenger seat" the Springfield Police Department revealed on Facebook.
"The officer approached and watched the entire process."
Undeterred, the driver then exited the vehicle from the passenger side, asserting that he was not the one behind the wheel.
However, his façade quickly crumbled as police said he showed unmistakable signs of intoxication and proceeded to flee on foot when questioned.
Fortunately for the authorities, the suspect's escape was short-lived, as he was apprehended a mere 20 yards away from his car.
Police made a playful comment about the man's furry accomplice.
"The dog was given to an acquaintance of the driver to take care of while the party was in jail," jested the police department.
"The dog does not face any charges and was let go with just a warning."
Meanwhile, the inebriated driver was taken to a hospital before being booked into the Baca County Jail.
The man, whose identity was not released by police, had the additional complication of two active warrants for his arrest from Pueblo, his intended destination before getting to Springfield.
He now faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving with impaired ability, driving under suspension, resisting arrest, and speeding 20mph to 25mph over the limit.
His outstanding warrants also contributed to his extended stay behind bars.
As news of the peculiar incident spread, social media users couldn't help but indulge in dog-related humour.
One Facebook user shared an image of a dog with a mugshot and quipped: "I was framed, officer..."
Another user jokingly suggested that the driver's drunken state rendered him unable to navigate with a GPS, hence resorting to a guide dog.
With the public's imagination ignited, many expressed their curiosity about the events captured on the dashcam and bodycam footage.
"I'd pay money to watch the dash and body cam of this whole thing," one user eagerly commented.
