The New Jersey mayor, accused of driving intoxicated, is said to have driven a toddler's home from childcare on St. Patrick's Day on a drunken stray.
Lumberton Township leader Gina Laplaka was arrested on March 17 for a stunt allegedly induced by alcohol after receiving her two-year-old son from daycare.
The 45-year-old Democrat was reportedly caught on video by another driver spinning across the road. Reported by WPVI Quoting the charging document.
Police returned the car to Laplaka's home and met the mayor on Monday around 6pm.
It was found that the infant was tied to the rear passenger car seat.
Officers also found an open container of alcohol, the outlet reported.
Laplaka admitted to drinking while driving and was reportedly tested for outdoor drinking.
According to the outlet, she was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Police also accused Laplaka of reckless driving and putting the welfare of children in danger, according to court records seen by the Post.
She was released on a subpoena for appearance in court on April 28th.
Laplaka's husband defends his wife saying that she is suffering from addiction and has got the help she needs, and calls on critics not to attack the mother of her child.
“Don't ignore exaggerated political exaggeration and keep in mind your passion for helping others. This should not erase everything she has achieved for our community,” Jason Carty wrote on Facebook.
Laplaka shares her infant son with Kurt and has a teenage step-son from her husband's previous relationship.
She was first elected to the Lumberton Township Committee in 2020.
The five-person panel first chose Laplaca to serve a one-year term as mayor in 2021. She has been re-elected for the past three years.
She has been working at the Jersey Shore Area Neptune Township since November 2021 and served as assistant business administrator before being promoted to business administrator in January 2022.
Laplaca resigned before the Township Committee meeting on March 10th. Reported by Asbury Park Press.
She argued that “change in the political environment” was her reason for quitting her job in the town, located 50 miles northeast of Lumberton, across the Garden State.
Fordham Law School alumni took on several attorney roles, including a nearly three-year stint at the New Jersey General Assembly's majority office.
She then first worked as Verizon's Secretary of State for 11 years, then for seven months in the role of regional director for American Brewery Giant Anheuser-Busch, according to her LinkedIn profile.
In addition to his role as a mayor and a member of the town committee, Laplaka is chairing the Lumberton Democrats.
