Shawn Oliver was arrested on an operating under the influence charge after a late-night motor vehicle crash on Dartmouth Street in New Bedford. The Republican lieutenant governor candidate and New Bedford City Councilor was taken to St. Luke’s for treatment of injuries before being placed under arrest.
New Bedford police said officers responded around 11:40 p.m. to a crash involving an overturned car that struck multiple parked cars. Five cars were involved, and two sustained extensive damage.
Ash Street Jail and Sunday morning
Oliver, 42, was also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and a marked lanes violation. Sheriff Paul Heroux said he was held at Ash Street Jail after being booked at around 6:45 a.m.
A reporter saw Oliver leave Ash Street Jail just after 9 a.m. on Sunday with his belongings in a plastic bag. When asked about the crash and why he was taken into custody, Oliver said he was in a crash on Dartmouth Street and declined to comment further.
Republican ticket pressure
The arrest landed while Oliver was campaigning across the state with Mike Minogue, his running mate on the Republican ticket. Oliver had been the only GOP lieutenant governor candidate after Brian Shortsleeve’s defeat in the primary, making the arrest a separate legal problem for a statewide candidate already in the middle of a campaign.
Minogue said Sunday morning, “We are still learning the facts on what happened and hope and pray no one was hurt.” He also said, “If it is true, Shawn will need to take responsibility for his actions. Driving under the influence is not acceptable. I am grateful to law enforcement for their response last night and their daily work keeping our communities safe. I will have further comments when we learn more.”
Massachusetts Republican Party
Amy Carnevale said the Massachusetts Republican Party had “just learned of the car accident involving Shawn Oliver” and that party leaders were “awaiting additional information as everyone else.” Oliver had been in Newton on Saturday to speak with a conservative influencer and podcast host, according to his Facebook.
The crash drew added attention because Shawn Oliver is both a candidate for lieutenant governor and a local officeholder. The next step in the case will come through the legal process tied to the arrest, while the facts that matter most remain the same: a late-night crash, multiple damaged cars, and an arrest on OUI and driving charges in New Bedford.
