Massachusetts Republican lieutenant governor candidate suspends campaign after OUI arrest

A candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, Republican Shawn Oliver, was arrested on drunken driving charges after a crash late Saturday that left several parked vehicles damaged and his own overturned, police said.

On Sunday, Oliver, a New Bedford City Council member, announced he was suspending his campaign, as his running mate, Mike Minogue, had called for him to do.

“After careful reflection, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for Lieutenant Governor,” Oliver said in a statement. “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.”

He faces charges of operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding, New Bedford police said Sunday.

They said Oliver’s vehicle overturned after it hit five parked vehicles, two of which were extensively damaged, near a shopping plaza on Dartmouth Street about 11:40 p.m. Oliver was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital to be treated and was later arrested.

Oliver was booked by the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and has since been released, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said Monday.

He has been assigned to the Massachusetts Treatment Center and has been placed on “restricted work duty while all facts and circumstances are reviewed,” said Scott Croteau, a Massachusetts Department of Correction spokesperson.

Oliver’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Saying he was “extremely disappointed,” the Republican candidate for governor, Mike Minogue, had called on Oliver to suspend his campaign.

“Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt. There is no excuse for driving under the influence,” Minogue said in a statement.

He said that he had spoken with Oliver and that “he needs to put his family first,” offering help so Oliver ensures he doesn’t have another such incident.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a statement that he was made aware of the incident Sunday morning and called the allegations against Oliver “deeply concerning,” adding, “The public deserves to hear his explanation of what happened.”

The chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, Amy Carnevale, said in a statement Sunday morning: “We just learned of the car accident involving Shawn Oliver. We are awaiting additional information as everyone else.”