New Bedford City Councilor Shawn Oliver pleaded not guilty on Monday to operating under the influence of alcohol and multiple traffic charges following a weekend rollover crash in New Bedford that left several vehicles damaged. The 42-year-old municipal official, who suspended his campaign for Massachusetts lieutenant governor shortly after the incident, appeared in New Bedford District Court for his morning arraignment.
During the court proceedings, Oliver entered formal pleas of not guilty to operating under the influence (OUI), negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and a marked lanes violation. Arriving at the courthouse shortly before 9 a.m., he was greeted by defense attorney John Hendrie before entering the courtroom to sit with his wife, Emerald O’Driscoll-Oliver. When approached for comment, Oliver declined to elaborate on the allegations, stating, "I have no comment at this time." The judge released Oliver on personal recognizance without bail at the prosecutor's request, imposing a requirement that he refrain from driving while the legal case remains open. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 16.
Court records released after the arraignment detailed the police response to the crash, which took place around 11:40 p.m. Saturday on Dartmouth Street near the South End Stop & Shop. Responding officers found Oliver's Lincoln Navigator flipped upside down with no occupants inside. The incident affected five vehicles in total, including a Toyota Camry with extensive damage pushed over a curb onto the grass, and a red Camry severely damaged after being forced into another parked car. Police spokesperson Holly Huntoon confirmed that two of the impacted vehicles suffered extensive damage. Officer Andrew Parker located Oliver standing on the sidewalk nearby, speaking on his phone with bleeding from a cut behind his ear. When asked how he felt, Oliver told the officer he was "OK," adding that "it's been a long day." He explained he was traveling north toward home after meeting friends in Dartmouth, asked twice whether anyone else had been injured, and remarked that he had been "burning both ends of the wick."
An eyewitness who requested anonymity informed Officer Orlando Franco that they had been stopped directly behind Oliver’s Navigator at a red light on Dartmouth Street, south of Rockdale Avenue. According to the witness narrative, when the traffic signal turned green, the Navigator remained stationary, prompting the trailing driver to put their car in reverse to check the light. The Navigator then accelerated northbound through the intersection, swerving left and right before crossing Rockdale Avenue. Traveling at high speed, the vehicle drifted left into oncoming lanes, struck parked vehicles along the west curb, and flipped over. Officer Franco followed the ambulance transporting Oliver to St. Luke's Hospital, where Oliver disclosed that he had consumed "at least 2 alcoholic beverages earlier in the night at Black Bass Grill" prior to visiting a friend's home in Dartmouth. Noting that Oliver had bloodshot, glassy eyes and smelled of alcohol, Officer Franco determined he was impaired, placed him under arrest, and handcuffed him to the hospital bed. Police noted that Oliver vomited at the facility, was unable to undergo field sobriety testing due to his injuries, and refused an evidentiary blood draw.
The arrest triggered prompt political and employment repercussions for the city councilor. Oliver was transported from the hospital to the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford and announced the suspension of his lieutenant governor campaign a few hours after his release on Sunday. Because early voting is already underway, Oliver remains on the ballot as the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue. Minogue stated on Sunday that if elected, he would formally request Oliver's resignation. Additionally, Oliver has been placed on restricted work duty at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater while officials evaluate the incident, according to Department of Correction spokesperson Scott Croteau. The medium-security facility houses civilly committed sexually dangerous individuals and criminally sentenced male sex offenders. The office of the facility superintendent declined to provide details regarding his employment status.
Court documents further show that Oliver faced previous motor vehicle charges in 2003 in Mattapoisett, where he was charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle and a number plate violation to conceal identity. Wareham District Court files show he admitted to sufficient facts regarding the concealment charge. The judge issued a finding of sufficient facts but continued the case without a guilty finding, an outcome that typically concludes after completing probation. Records indicate Oliver paid $50 in court costs along with a $21 monthly probation service fee for that matter.
