Shawn Oliver, who suspended his campaign for Massachusetts lieutenant governor following an alleged drunk driving crash over the weekend, briefly appeared in court Monday and was released on personal recognizance. Newly released police reports provide additional details about the Republican's arrest.
Oliver appeared in New Bedford District Court Monday morning, a day after he was arrested. He's charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and speeding.
A not guilty plea was entered on the New Bedford city councilor's behalf. The judge released him on personal recognizance, noting that if Oliver is arrested on any new charges that status can be revoked. He's due back in court on Nov. 16. Oliver's license was suspended after the crash.
Oliver and his attorney John Hendrie did not answer questions from reporters while leaving court.
Police said Oliver was driving drunk when he crashed into parked cars and flipped his SUV around 11:40 p.m. Saturday on Dartmouth Street in New Bedford. He was taken to the hospital for treatment, then arrested.
Reports released Monday show that when officers responded after the crash, they found Oliver sitting on a chair that someone who lives in the area had brought to him. According to a police report, Oliver had a cut on the right side of his head and was bleeding.
A witness told police he was in the car behind Oliver at a traffic light on Dartmouth Street. The light turned green, and Oliver did not move. The witness said Oliver then had to put the SUV in reverse to see if the light had indeed changed.
According to the witness, Oliver drove through the intersection, then began to drift to the right, nearly hitting the curb. The SUV abruptly veered left to avoid hitting the curb, the witness said, crossing onto the other side of the road and hitting multiple parked cars.
"It should be noted that the Navigator was traveling at such a high rate of speed that upon impact, it caused 1 vehicle to be dislodged from the roadway and multiple vehicles to be pushed into each other," the police report reads.
Oliver told police he consumed at least two drinks earlier in the night at Black Bass Grill. Police said his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. The officer said Oliver smelled like alcohol and vomited before being placed under arrest at the hospital.
The police report indicates that Oliver required staples to close the cut on his head. The wound was visible inside the courtroom Monday.
Oliver is currently on the Republican ballot for lieutenant governor as a running mate of gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue.
Following Oliver's arrest, Minogue called for him to suspend his campaign and said that if he's elected governor he would ask Oliver to resign. A short time later, Oliver announced he was ending his campaign.
"This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and ask that my family's privacy be respected during this difficult time," Oliver said in a statement Sunday.
The Massachusetts Secretary of State's office said that candidates who were nominated in the state primary had until Sept. 4 to withdraw from the ballot, and as a result all ballots have been printed. Nearly 300,000 Massachusetts voters had already cast their ballots as of Monday.
"It is not possible to withdraw from the ballot at this late stage," a spokesperson for Secretary of State William Galvin said. "If elected, a candidate has a choice whether or not to take the oath of office."
The Secretary of State said that if Minogue and Oliver were elected, Oliver could refuse the oath, which would leave the lieutenant governor position open. Then, the Secretary of State would step in as next in line.
Minogue's campaign said Monday that several states, including Maine and New Hampshire, operate without a lieutenant governor. The campaign added that it would save taxpayers over $300,000 in salary and security costs to have no lieutenant governor. The campaign is asking supporters to select the Minogue-Oliver ticket on the ballot since they have already been printed.
Oliver was originally Brian Shortsleeve's running mate before Shortsleeve dropped out of the Republican race for governor.
"Shawn Oliver made the right decision for himself and his family. The focus now should remain on getting Mike Minogue elected Governor so we can make Massachusetts the best place to live, work, and raise a family," Shortsleeve said in a statement Monday.
Incumbent Democrat Maura Healey, who is running for re-election with current Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, spoke about Oliver's arrest for the first time.
"I'm just glad no one was hurt and I'm grateful for the first responders. It's obvious there's chaos over at the Mike Minogue campaign. This is his second lieutenant governor candidate that he's lost. We've got enough chaos from Donald Trump. We don't need more from Mike Minogue," Healey said. "I'm going to continue to focus on what people need in this state. Lowering costs, building more homes, lowering gas and electric bills as we face this winter, and driving Massachusetts forward."
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
