A New Jersey Democratic official and police sergeant now faces explosive criminal allegations after investigators say he used a chemical substance to incapacitate a juvenile he met online before sexually assaulting the child, sending shockwaves through his hometown and local political circles.
Andrew LaBruno, 44—a former Dumont mayor, longtime police sergeant and recent Democratic legislative candidate—was taken into custody Monday after Bergen County authorities gathered what they described as extensive evidence supporting the accusations.
The investigation was launched after Englewood police responded to an emergency call regarding a juvenile showing signs of cognitive impairment.
Authorities say the child later reported that an adult had arrived at the home after connecting with them on a social media platform and that LaBruno had no prior relationship with the victim, NY Daily News reports.
According to the criminal complaint, LaBruno sprayed “an unknown substance into his hand” and pressed it over the child’s “mouth and nose,” causing immediate disorientation and leaving the minor unable to resist the assault, prosecutors stated.
Investigators said probable cause was established through multiple forms of evidence, including statements LaBruno allegedly made while officers’ body cameras were recording, physical items recovered from the residence and the victim’s detailed account.
The evidence led to charges including first-degree aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, the New York Post reports.
LaBruno was booked into Bergen County Jail, where he remains without bail as prosecutors seek continued detention.
The Jersey City Police Department—where LaBruno has worked since 2005 and is currently assigned as a sergeant in the Office of Emergency Management—confirmed he has been suspended without pay pending both an internal review and the criminal proceedings.
Officials noted the investigation progressed rapidly after Englewood officers alerted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, though the child’s age and the timing of the alleged assault have been withheld to protect privacy.
The first-degree charge specifically relates to the child’s incapacitation and LaBruno’s alleged knowledge of the victim’s vulnerability.
The case has drawn renewed attention to LaBruno’s political background.
A Democrat with a prominent local profile, he served as Dumont mayor from 2020 to 2023 after winning a council seat in 2018.
He dropped out of the 2023 mayoral race late in the season, citing family reasons, and most recently ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature in the 39th District.
Dumont, located just west of the Hudson River, is regarded as a competitive political area.
LaBruno often emphasized community involvement and volunteerism in public messaging.
He founded the Dumont Community Group, a local charity and in a 2020 interview on diversity initiatives said, “Dumont is a welcoming community and my administration will continue to make progress on committees and boards that recognize our diversity and celebrate our friends, family and neighbors.”
Authorities are reviewing digital communications and have not ruled out additional charges ahead of LaBruno’s upcoming appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.
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