Massachusetts GOP Candidate Arrested on DUI Charge
Shawn Oliver, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, was arrested on Saturday night after a vehicle crash involving five parked cars in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Following the incident, he was charged with operating under the influence and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
What happened
- Shawn Oliver, a 42-year-old New Bedford city councilor and Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, was arrested by the New Bedford Police Department on Saturday night at approximately 11:40 p.m. at 448 Dartmouth St. Police responded to reports of a vehicle rollover that had struck five parked vehicles.
- Two of the parked vehicles sustained extensive damage.
- Oliver was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
- Following the incident, he was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, and speeding.
- Mike Minogue, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, publicly demanded Oliver suspend his campaign, stating he was ‘lucky to be alive’ and that ‘no excuse’ existed for driving under the influence.
- Oliver confirmed his campaign suspension on X, stating the election was too important to be overshadowed by personal matters.
- Jon Mitchell, the Democratic mayor of New Bedford, stated the crash occurred in the city’s South End and called for Oliver to address the incident publicly.
- Scott J. Croteau, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Correction, confirmed Oliver was placed on restricted work duty at the Massachusetts Treatment Center while all facts and circumstances are reviewed.