A Seekonk selectman was locked up Monday, unable to make bail on a charge that he shoved his wife.
John Whelan, 41, had already announced he will not seek re-election to the Seekonk Board of Selectmen, on which he's served the past eight years.
He's said he's having trouble earning a living and that he wanted to spend more time with his family. Except a judge on Monday ordered he keep away from his family, after being accused of manhandling his wife over the weekend.
She told the court about what happened when she dropped off their two children to visit with their father Sunday.
"He came by me and tried to push me into the garage, through the garage, through the door into the garage," Sharon Whelan said.
The Whelans have been living apart for a few months, and she said he's implied his position protects him.
"My husband is a selectman in town, and he makes it very clear amongst his family that he feels he is untouchable in Seekonk because of his friends on the police department," Sharon Whelan said.
But as John Whelan was taken into custody because he doesn't have $1,000 bail money, his lawyer said Whelan's notoriety as an elected official hurt him in court.
William Brownell said he was surprised Whelan wasn't released on personal recognizance.
"There was no indications whatsoever on the record or in the police report, or there was no evidence that he was a flight risk and not going to appear at his next court date," Brownell said. "So, I was very surprised."
Whelan's next court appearance for a pretrial conference is March 13. He'll remain held unless he posts $1,000 or has success in a bail review hearing.
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