A Mattapan woman already facing serious motor vehicle offenses was arraigned today for allegedly running down a child and fleeing the scene while free on bail in the earlier case, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

SHANIQUA NELSON (D.O.B. 3/12/92) was taken into custody on multiple new charges today at Dorchester District Court, where she had been scheduled to appear in connection with a March case alleging three counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage, two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, and single counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, operating with a suspended license, and resisting arrest.

Nelson was arraigned today on charges of leaving the scene of an April 18 incident in which she allegedly struck a 6-year-old boy on Delhi Street and speeding away from the scene. She is additionally charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and violating the state’s witness intimidation law. The boy was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he remained for two weeks – including four days spent in a medically-induced coma. The boy is recovering, authorities said, but his long-term prognosis is unclear.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Devlin recommended that Nelson’s $1000 bail in the March case be
revoked and that $40,000 cash bail be set on the new case. Dorchester District Court Judge Rosalind Miller revoked Nelson’s earlier bail and set $15,000 cash bail on her latest case. Miller also ordered that Nelson not drive during the pendency of her case.

Devlin briefly noted the allegations of Nelson’s earlier offenses. In that case, Nelson was allegedly driving erratically and operating her mother’s 2002 Hyundai Elantra with a suspended driver’s license when she collided with three parked cars on Armandine Street shortly after 5:30 p.m. on March 23. Nelson allegedly drove away from the scene of those collisions with her front left tire bent outwards and burning rubber as she travelled along Milton Avenue.

Boston Police observed her flight and activated their lights and sirens with the intention of stopping her. Instead, Nelson allegedly accelerated until she lost control of the vehicle near Fuller Street. When officers approached her, she allegedly justified her actions by saying her grandfather was dying, her boyfriend had broken up with her, she didn’t have a license, and she was scared.

When the officers ordered her out of the car, Nelson allegedly refused and tightly gripped the steering wheel. When the officers tried to pry her fingers from it, she allegedly struck them repeatedly before being taken into custody.

Nelson was arraigned the next day. In addition to setting bail, the presiding judge ordered her not to drive.

Less than a month Later, Devlin said, Nelson was behind the wheel of a car when she struck the young child on Delhi Street. Again, she allegedly sped away from the scene. Witnesses were unable to recall the car’s plate number, but a car buff who chased after the vehicle recognized it as a two-tone Mitsubishi Eclipse. That car was later identified as a 1999 vehicle belonging to her boyfriend.

At some point between the March and April offenses, Nelson’s license had been returned to her, and she is not charged with operating after suspension in the new case.

In the days and weeks following the collision, Boston Police undertook extensive efforts to locate the car and then to identify the driver. Prosecutors allege that Nelson actively sought to have friends and family members lie to investigators about her involvement in the crash, and she is charged for those alleged actions under the state’s witness intimidation statute.

With multiple witness statements, video surveillance footage, and other evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, Boston Police obtained a warrant for Nelson’s arrest on June 23. She eluded investigators until today, when she walked into court.

“These actions are outrageous and the crimes are egregious,” Conley said. “This woman should not be on the road, period. It’s by God’s grace that this child survived. The next victim might not be so lucky.”
Nelson is represented by attorney Robert Sheketoff. She will return to court next month.