Taunton mayor charged with A&B with dangerous weapon (a crowbar). What court records say

TAUNTON — Taunton Mayor Shaunna O'Connell allegedly bit her husband, attacked him with a small crowbar and then jumped on the roof of his car to keep him from leaving during an argument Friday evening, he told police prior to her arrest.

The details of the incident were part of a Taunton Police report in court documents Monday. The mayor was arraigned Monday in Taunton District Court on charges of assault and battery on a household member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. She was released on personal recognizance.

Her husband, Ted O'Connell, sat by her side in court and they left the courthouse together, holding hands. Ted O'Connell spoke to the media briefly after the arraignment outside the courthouse. The mayor declined to comment.

Ted O'Connell said he wanted to apologize to his wife and to the Taunton police.

What happened in court?

O'Connell's lawyer, James McMahon of Bourne, entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf and she was released on personal recognizance.

Taunton District Judge Gloriann Morone set a condition of "no abuse of the victim."

Assault and battery on a household member is a misdemeanor and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon is a felony.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office will appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case from this point forward to avoid any possible conflict of interest because the defendant is an elected official, a spokesperson for the DA's office said after the arraignment. Spokesperson Gregg Miliote said the special prosecutor, who was not in court Monday, will be private attorney Daniel Bennett.

O'Connell is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 12.

What happened on night of the incident?

Police were dispatched to the mayor's house at 8:18 p.m. Friday, July 19, for a report of an active disturbance, possibly involving a crowbar. When they got there they found Ted O'Connell in the driveway and he said he and his wife had had an argument that had turned physical over a "marital issue," according to the police report by Sgt. George Lozado.

Ted O'Connell told police the mayor had bitten him on his arm and struck him on the hand with a small crowbar, the report said. Lozado noted that he saw an "open wound" on Ted O'Connell's arm and "multiple open wounds on his knuckles."

Ted O'Connell also told police that when he attempted to leave, his wife jumped on the hood of his vehicle, according to the police report. Lozado noted a "small dent" on the front portion of the hood.

When Lozado asked Ted O'Connell where the mayor was, he told him inside the house and "he was concerned for her," according to the police report. At that point, Lozado asked if his wife had any access to weapons, including firearms, and Ted O'Connell said there were firearms in the house but they were secured in a safe.

Two other officers were attempting unsuccessfully to speak with the mayor while Lozado interviewed Ted O'Connell, the report says. At that point Lozado made his way up to the second floor where he could hear a woman on the phone behind a closed door. He asked the mayor to open the door so he could make sure she was not injured and also to obtain a statement from her, but she refused, he said. At that point, he was able to see her through a small crack and she did not appear to be injured.

After a few minutes, she opened the door and sat down on her bed, Lozado said in the police report. He said he asked her what had happened and she said, "I don't know." He then told her Ted O'Connell's description of the incident and asked her how her husband was injured and she continued to say she didn't know, according to Lozado. At that point, she told Lozado her husband had been "verbally abusive to her."

Lozado advised both Shauna and Ted O'Connell, at different times that night, of their rights to seek a restraining order and but neither was interested in doing so, according to Lozado's report.

When Capt. Daniel McCarthy, who was serving as acting chief at the time, arrived on scene Lozado told him there was probable cause to arrest the mayor, according to the report. They escorted her to the first floor where she was placed in handcuffs. Upon exiting their house, she began yelling towards her husband, Lozado said.

She was then placed in a cruiser and taken to the Taunton Police station where she was booked and placed in a cell to await bail, according to the report.

Mayor issues statement about incident

O’Connell issued a statement Saturday saying she had been involved in a domestic incident with her husband Ted that resulted in a police response. Her statement did not mention the fact that she had been arrested.

“Ted and I have been married for 27 years. Like all couples we have had challenges,” O’Connell’s statement reads.

What we knew on Saturday: Taunton mayor's husband calls police during domestic argument.

“We’ve been working through marital issues,” the statement continues. “During an argument, Ted involved the police and regrets making that decision.

“We ask for privacy for our family on personal matters as we work through this matter.”

The mayor ’s statement was issued by her longtime campaign strategy advisor Holly Robichaud.

Who is Shaunna O'Connell? Women Making History:Shaunna O'Connell

How long has Shaunna O'Connell been mayor?

O’Connell, 54, is serving her third two-year term as Taunton’s mayor. She was elected in 2019 following then-mayor Thomas Hoye’s appointment as Bristol County Register of Probate.

Prior to her becoming mayor, O’Connell, a Republican, served five terms from 2011 to 2020 in the Massachusetts State House as the 3rd Bristol district’s state representative.

What to know about Shaunna O'Connell's husband and family

O’Connell and her husband have two daughters. The younger of the two, Riley, was 18 in June of 2023 when she went missing for five days from the Evoke Wellness addiction and mental-health treatment center in Hilliard, Ohio.

During that time her parents issued pleas for information from the public as to her whereabouts and traveled to Ohio to help search for their daughter.

Police in nearby Columbus found Riley alone and unharmed reportedly wandering around in their city. She eventually moved back to Taunton to live with her parents.

How to get help if you are a victim of domestic abuse or violence

If you or someone you know needs help regarding domestic abuse or violence, call New Hope Inc.’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-323-HOPE.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Taunton mayor charged with A&B with dangerous weapon (a crowbar). What court records say