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NEW BEDFORD — A city police officer was charged last week with two felonies for allegedly acting as an accessory after the fact to a domestic violence incident involving a man she was dating.
Officer Imari Soares, 29, was placed on administrative leave last week and faces two felony charges: accessory after the fact, and misleading police and impeding or interfering with a criminal investigation, per court filings.
On June 15, Shay Gibbons, a Randolph man, allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with a firearm and forced entry into her New Bedford apartment at around 10:30 p.m. to retrieve his shotgun, per dispatch audio and police records.
Gibbons, 33, told police he then left his ex’s apartment in a car owned by Soares and met with the on-duty officer about one mile away. During that meeting, Soares took his handgun and stored it in her backpack in its holster; it was loaded with one round in the chamber, a police report states.
Soares allegedly did not disclose this until supervisors were questioning her. At a supervisor’s request, Soares then called Gibbons and convinced him to turn himself in at the police station, which he did around midnight.
“Officer Soares assisted Mr. Gibbons by meeting with him, taking possession of the firearm, and trying to conceal its whereabouts,” reads the criminal complaint. “Officer Soares continued to provide false information while speaking with” supervising officers.
For domestic incidents, charges are more severe if the perpetrator is armed or brandishes a weapon.
The police report states Soares told police that Gibbons was on the ex-girlfriend’s lease and had a key to the apartment, but that Gibbons stated he was not on the lease and had no key. “This false information could have impacted the charges or the investigation’s direction,” the report says of Soares’ statement.
Soares did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
When questioned, Soares said she took Gibbons’ firearm because she was “just trying to prevent any further escalation of the incident,” the report states, and was “not aware of the seriousness of the charges.”
The radio call, in which Soares participated, however, clearly communicates the circumstances, which is that Gibbons allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with his firearm, had pushed his way into her apartment, and fled the scene in a vehicle with Soares’ license plate and make, per dispatch audio.
Twice over the radio, Soares, identified as unit 32, asked unit 33 — Officer Tyler Viera — to call her cellphone while they and other officers were searching city streets for Gibbons in the vehicle.
Per police reports, Viera did not call Soares’ personal cell phone.
Dispatch stated Gibbons had a black rifle in the vehicle, which is the firearm he retrieved from his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. Soares said over the radio that he has a license to carry: “I’m familiar with it.”
Police Chief Paul Oliveira did not provide comment, with Assistant Deputy Chief Scott Carola stating the chief does not comment on ongoing personnel matters. Carola did not confirm whether Soares’ leave is paid or unpaid.
Gibbons was charged with armed burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, improper storage of a firearm, and assault on a household member. He was arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty.
He told police he did not use his firearm to threaten his ex-girlfriend, but that the gun was weighing down his sweatpants, so he grabbed his waistband to adjust his pants. He also alleges his ex-girlfriend began assaulting him; police stated he did not have any visible injuries.
Gibbons did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He told police he and Soares had been dating for about two months.
In a separate domestic incident on May 1, police alleged New Bedford police officer Robinson Ubri, whom Soares had been dating on and off, pushed her and forced entrance into her apartment. Ubri was charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering, misdemeanor assault, and a felony for improper storage of his firearm. Ubri was subsequently placed on administrative leave, and the state POST Commission suspended his officer certification. His case is still pending.
Soares has a department disciplinary history with a firearm stemming from a December 2022 incident after an off-duty outing at a downtown New Bedford bar.
“Officer Soares was irresponsible when it came to her department issued firearm,” wrote the department investigator. She “brought her department issued [redacted] into a bar and at one point” it was in the possession of someone not licensed to carry.
Soares had the magazine in a separate part of her purse, per the report. She also confirmed she broke a glass window near the bar with her fist that night.
The complaint against her was sustained, with the department finding she neglected her duty and engaged in conduct “injurious to the public peace and welfare” and conduct “unbecoming of an officer.”
Soares is set to be arraigned in New Bedford District Court next month.
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
