Police Release Footage Of New Jersey Mayor’s Arrest For Alleged DUI After Locals Call For Her To Resign
She appeared to stumble and lose her balance almost immediately
Democrat mayor slapped with DUI, child endangerment charges after allegedly crazy St. Patrick's Day ride home with toddler
The Democratic mayor of Lumberton, New Jersey, was arrested Monday evening and slapped with numerous charges, including second-degree child endangerment, after allegedly picking up her toddler from daycare then recklessly driving home in an intoxicated state.
Gina LaPlaca, who was sworn in for another term as mayor in January and serves also as the chairwoman of the Lumberton Democrats, indicated she has no intention of stepping down from her role as mayor.
The Asbury Park Press reported that LaPlaca, 45, has been charged with child endangerment; cruelty and neglect; operating a motor vehicle under the influence; reckless driving; careless driving likely to endanger; crossing over marked lanes in traffic; driving with an expired license; and for having an open container of alcohol in her vehicle.
LaPlaca was allegedly caught on video driving her 2019 BMW haphazardly, swerving in and out of her lane, and then at one point nearly crashing into a utility pole, reported the Philadelphia Inquirer. When police later found the vehicle with the toddler strapped in the backseat, LaPlaca allegedly confessed both to drinking and recently picking up her 2-year-old son from daycare.
'I will not be resigning my position.'
Cops reportedly conducted field sobriety tests and found an open alcoholic beverage in the BMW.
The Democratic mayor, who was escorted out of a March 5 Mount Holly Fire Commissioners meeting following a vicious exchange with audience members and was arrested in 2023 for allegedly assaulting her activist husband, is scheduled to appear in court on April 28.
LaPlaca reportedly stated Tuesday on social media, "The unfortunate fact is that I have a disease, one which millions of people share and that I would not wish on my worst enemy. My husband is taking me today to get the help I need and which I have been reluctant to get because I am not one to admit 'weakness' or ask for help."
The Democratic mayor added, "And no I will not be resigning my position. I will come back from recovery stronger and more focused on what is best for my family and our community."
In 2023, LaPlaca was arrested for assaulting her activist husband, Jason Carty, who was also arrested. Carty assumed responsibility, thereby neutralizing the charges against his wife, reported the New Jersey Globe, which has dubbed the Democratic mayor the "Queen of Toxicity."
"Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and never get help. Gina is someone who has struggled, and is now getting the help she needs," LaPlaca's husband, Jason Carty, said in a statement. "I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. Please ignore the exaggerated political hyperbole and keep in mind her passion for helping others. This should not erase all the things she has accomplished for our community."
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Ohio mom leaves her young special-needs children home alone to go on Miami vacation — with friend getting liposuction
An Ohio mother was convicted of abandoning her three young children — two of whom have special needs — to go on a Florida vacation to be with her friend who was getting liposuction surgery.
On Feb. 22, a Westlake City Schools special education teacher notified police that one of her students — a 7-year-old girl — informed her that she had been left home alone with her twin sister and her 10-year-old sister. The special education teacher requested a welfare check from police, according to newly released audio.
'Do you remember why she was in Miami? Her friend needed liposuction surgery.'
On the same day, police conducted a welfare check on the apartment in Westlake – roughly 15 miles west of Cleveland.
Officers said the children were alone and the apartment was in complete "disarray."
Citing police, WKYC reported that the apartment was "in shambles" and "there was clothing, food, trash, and an unknown liquid covering the floor." The officer noted there was "furniture stacked up in a corner, storage boxes stacked in another corner, and the apartment itself smelled of old food and body odor."
“Garbage, bins, and bags were strewn all over the floor,” court records state, according to the Independent.
According to court documents, the children told police they did not have a cellphone to contact their mother but had been communicating with her through Nest cameras located around the unit and FaceTime on a MacBook tablet.
Investigators determined that the mother — Dominique Knowles — had abandoned her children to go on vacation in Miami.
The children's grandmother purportedly told police Knowles had not left the state, and Knowles allegedly told a detective she was not out of state.
Westlake Law Director Michael Maloney determined that Knowles had traveled to Miami a day before police conducted the welfare check.
Investigators used subpoenaed cellphone records to determine that Knowles made or received 50 calls in the greater Miami area from Feb. 21 to Feb. 23, according to court documents.
During a hearing Wednesday, a prosecutor informed the judge: “Do you remember why she was in Miami? Her friend needed liposuction surgery.”
When arrested, Knowles allegedly told police, “My kids are allowed to be here by themselves.”
The arresting officer allegedly responded, “Not when you have two special-needs kids.”
Knowles told the courtroom Wednesday, "I understand what I did was wrong, and this absolutely would never happen again. I did believe my kids were able to dress themselves and get themselves to school. I wouldn’t dare let anything happen to my kids. I wish I could go back and change the circumstances."
Despite her plea, Knowles was found guilty of two counts of child endangerment — a first-degree misdemeanor that can be punishable by six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 per count.
However, Knowles was sentenced to five years of probation and 360 days of house arrest, ordered to attend a parenting class and mental health counseling, and given $800 in fines. Knowles will be allowed to leave house arrest to go to work.
Judge Joseph Burke of the Rocky River Municipal Court declared, "Something bad could’ve happened to the children, they could have started a fire in the apartment, they could have hurt themselves or suffered a medical emergency, or they could have been taken by a stranger. But most of all, they needed their mother to be there and parent them and not ... by remote cameras from Florida."
Burke noted, "I don’t want to further victimize your daughters by separating you from them. It is now time for you to become the mother that your daughters deserve, need, and require."
Blaze News reported in February that an Ohio mother left her 16-month-old daughter alone in a filthy playpen at home for 10 days while she went on vacation in Puerto Rico.
Kristel Candelario, 32, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and child endangerment.
In March, Candelario was sentenced to life without parole in what the judge described as the "ultimate act of betrayal."
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Parents hog-tie boy for over 9 hours, tell police they do so 'normally' to keep him from getting 'into things': Report
A mother and stepfather have been arrested for child endangerment after officers reportedly found a 12-year-old boy hog-tied on their hotel room floor.
On July 22, members of the Northwood Police Department responded to a call from someone concerned that a boy had been tied up in a Baymont hotel room in Northwood, Ohio, just across the Maumee River from downtown Toledo.
When police arrived around 12:30 p.m. local time, they found a 12-year-old boy with his wrists and ankles tied behind his back with shoe laces. He had reportedly been lying on the floor since 3 a.m.
The boy was not alone in the room. Two other children, ages 14 and 6, were also in the room, unrestrained. The boy's stepfather, Jason Sosnowicz Sr., 42, was also there. Police believe that the family had been living in the hotel room. A Baymont employee told police that Sosnowicz worked at the hotel as well.
Not long after police discovered the boy, they said his mother, Tabetha Sosnowicz, 38, arrived and confirmed that she knew the boy had been restrained. Her husband had reportedly told police that the two of them "normally" tie the boy up because he "gets into things." The couple also admitted that they often restrain the boy at night to keep him away from candy, according to reports.
Police said that the boy was injured, though they did not elaborate about the severity of his injuries or the type of medical treatment he had received. His current condition and location are unknown.
Tabetha and Jason Sosnowicz have both been charged with child endangerment, a third-degree felony, and administering corporal punishment, according to Newsweek. Tabetha is being held on a $25,000 bond, and Jason is being held on a $75,000 bond.
It is not known who made the original tip to police or into whose custody the three children have been placed.
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