Taunton Police Sgt. Faces Drunken Driving Charge In Weekend Crash

A veteran Massachusetts police officer is facing a drunken driving charge in connection with an off-duty crash over the weekend that left a motorcycle operator in the hospital with serious injuries, police said Monday.

Taunton Sgt. Shawn Smith, 49, was placed on administrative leave after his arrest early Sunday morning, according to a statement from Chief Edward Walsh.

The crash occurred at about 1:30 a.m., police said. Smith was off-duty and driving a personal vehicle, according to authorities.

The motorcycle operator, a 52-year-old Rehoboth man, was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a Boston hospital. His injuries are serious but are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

Smith has been with the Taunton Police Department since 2000.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday to operating under the influence of liquor causing serious injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He was released on $2,000 bail. It was not immediately clear who represented him in court.