Worcester Bishop Robert Mcmanus Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Drunken Driving in Rhode Island

By Kevin Koczwara
MassLive.com
May 7, 2013

http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2013/05/worcester_bishop_robert_mcmanu.html

Bishop Robert McManus, Roman Catholic bishop of the Worcester, Mass., diocese stands in court with his attorney William Murphy, left, in South Kingstown, R.I., Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as he is arraigned on charges of drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident Saturday in Rhode Island. (AP Photo/Providence Journal, Frieda Squires, Pool) (The Associated Press)

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.

According to police, when questioned about the accident McManus told police that he may have hit a vehicle but didn't realize it if he did.

McManus consented to and failed three field sobriety tests, report police. He was placed under arrest and brought to the station without incident for booking.

McManus told officers at the scene that he had a glass of wine with dinner, report police. But he later told police that he had two drinks with dinner around 7 p.m. in Providence -- a Manhattan and a glass of wine with pasta and steak. McManus told police he was on his way home to his house on Col John Gardner Road when the alleged accident occurred.

The Associated Press reports he is to return to court May 28.