Taunton mayor seeks dismissal of charges alleging she assaulted husband with crowbar tool

O’Connell’s husband, Edward M. O’Connell, said in his affidavit that he would assert his spousal privilege against testing against his wife in any proceeding, as well as his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if questioned about the matter.

“During the argument of July 19, 2024, words were exchanged, the argument got heated, and matters got physical,” Edward O’Connell said in his filing. He didn’t elaborate on the physical nature of the dispute but said he wants “this criminal action dismissed.”

Mayor O’Connell, 54, said in her affidavit that after she and her husband argued in their home about “marital issues,” she went to an upstairs bedroom “where I felt safe” with her phone in hand, locking the door behind her .

When police later arrived to conduct a wellness check, the mayor said, she told them she was fine but said “very little” since she didn’t know “what was actually told to them” before they came upstairs. As a result, she said, she was arrested. The mayor had pleaded not guilty in July at arraignment in Taunton District Court.

“My husband and I have lived together for the past thirty-three (33) years,” the mayor said in her affidavit.

O’Connell, a Republican and former state representative, is a Taunton native who took office as mayor in 2020, according to her biography.

According to a police report, officers were called to O’Connell’s home on Worcester Street shortly before 8:20 pm An arriving officer encountered O’Connell’s husband standing in the couple’s driveway.

“He stated that on this day the topic of conversation that had come up between the two of them was a marital issue,” police wrote.

O’Connell’s husband “stated that during their argument his wife, Shaunna, had bit him on his left forearm and then proceeded to grab a small type of crowbar/gasket cleaner and had struck him with it on his right hand/knuckle area,” police wrote.

The officer saw an open wound on his forearm “consistent with” a bite, as well as “multiple open wounds” on his knuckles, police wrote.

O’Connell’s husband “went on to state that he attempted to leave the residence in his vehicle, at which time his wife had jumped on the hood of his vehicle so he was not able to leave,” police wrote. Police also saw a small dent on the front part of the hood, the report stated.

He told police his wife was inside their home and that he was concerned for her.

“I asked … if his wife had any access to any weapons to include firearms and he stated that there were firearms in the residence, however they were secured in a safe,” police wrote.

Police later made their way up to the second floor, where Mayor O’Connell was in a bedroom with the door closed, the report stated. She was initially uncooperative, according to police.

“Upon asking her to open the door, Shaunna had advised me to hold on as she had no intention on opening the door,” police wrote.

After a few minutes, O’Connell acquiesced, opening the door and taking a seat on a bed, police wrote. She repeatedly said she didn’t know what transpired or how her husband had been injured, police wrote.

She said her husband had been “verbally abusive” toward her, police wrote. She was later arrested and “placed in a secure cell to await bail” at the police station.

The mayor’s currently free on pretrial conditions including that she refrain from abusing or harassing her husband, records show.

Edward O’Connell never wanted to see his wife behind bars, he said in his dismissal affidavit, recalling the wrenching moments when his life partner was led away in handcuffs.

“As a result of the incident, my wife was arrested, and I saw my wife with handcuffs on and being led to a police cruiser,” Edward O’Connell said. “I told the Police that this is not what I wanted; I wish I never called the police; and, I regret doing that.”

Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report. This breaking news story will be updated when more information is released.

Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected].