RHODE ISLAND
MassLive
By Kevin Koczwara, MassLive.com
on May 07, 2013
Worcester Diocese Bishop Robert McManus pleaded not guilty to charges of drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident Tuesday morning in a Wakefield, R.I., courthouse.
Bishop McManus was arrested on Saturday night in Narragansett, R.I. after he was involved in an alleged hit-and-run accident on Saturday evening. Police said the man hit by McManus followed him and called police to report the accident.
McManus released a statement Monday when news broke about the arrest, saying that he made an “error of judgement” when he decided to drive after drinking alcohol during dinner.
According to Narragansett Police, Bishop McManus allegedly hit a vehicle that was stopped at a red light on Boston Neck Road and continued to the driveway of his home at 215 Col. John Gardner Road. The driver of the car McManus allegedly struck followed him and called police to report the incident.
Police report that officers arrived at McManus’ driveway at 10:32 p.m. and observed fresh damage to the driver’s side of his vehicle, a 2012 Honda Accord. An officer at the scene reports that McManus was swaying in a circular motion while standing and was “unsteady on his feet.” Officer report McManus slurring his words, and police had difficulty understanding the Bishop while he spoke. He also struggled to find his wallet, his face was red, his eyes were severely bloodshot and an officer smelled alcohol on his breath when he spoke, according to the police report.
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