Horrifying the public, former Dumont Mayor and Jersey City Police Sgt. Andrew LaBruno, 44, was arrested for allegedly meeting a child online, drugging them with an unknown substance at their Englewood home, and s*xually assaulting them while they were incapacitated. The disgraced officer and Democrat politician has since been charged with aggravated sexual assault and child endangerment, and currently, he is held without bail and suspended without pay.
For context, LaBruno, a recent Democratic Assembly candidate who nearly won NJ-39, has sparked outrage after receiving endorsements from Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill and the NJ Democratic Party. Republicans, including opponent Jay Costa, slammed the Democrats for backing an “alleged p*dophile.”
Summarizing the event, an official release stated, “Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 44-year-old ANDREW LABRUNO of Dumont, NJ (employed as a Sergeant with the Jersey City Police Department) on charges of aggravated s*xual assault, s*xual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child.”
Building out the case, the same source said, “The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Englewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley.”
Digging deeper into the sordid details, investigators said, “An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Englewood Police Department revealed that ANDREW LABRUNO, a stranger to the victim, engaged in conversation with the juvenile on a social media application, and made arrangements to meet. LABRUNO then sexually assaulted and endangered the juvenile at the juvenile’s residence in Englewood, NJ, while the juvenile was home alone.”
Offering an official statement on the horrific charges, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said, “Andrew LaBruno… was arrested on Monday and faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.”
Issuing another condemnation, Kim Wallace-Scalcione, Jersey City mayor’s office press secretary, declared. “He was suspended without pay immediately following his arrest.” Building on this point, she promised her office “will assist the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office as needed during its criminal investigation. As is standard procedure, JCPD Internal Affairs is conducting its own investigation and will determine his final employment status pending the outcome of all investigations.”
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Attacking the controversial officer and Democrat, Jay Costa explained, “They endorsed and supported Andrew LaBruno, who is now an alleged pedophile and sexual predator … Be warned, this is what we are up against in New Jersey.”
Continuing his diatribe, Costa noted the unfair treatment that he has received, particularly regarding the rhetoric that has been spewed in his direction from the state-level Democratic Party. Sounding off on that, and noting that the horrible rhetoric had led to dangers for his family, he said, “The NJ Democrat Party ran a smear campaign against me, calling me a ‘Right Wing Gun Extremist’ and accusing me of illegal activity, which lead to THREATS to the SAFETY of my FAMILY. At the same time, they endorsed and supported Andrew LaBruno, who is now an alleged P*DOPHILE and…” the Republican noted.