Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca arrested (Updated)

Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca was arrested today and charged with endangering her child after being arrested at her home earlier this evening following allegations of a hit-and-run with her son in the car.

LaPlaca, who has a history of legal issues, including charges of assault, has resigned her job as the Neptune Township administrator earlier this month after local officials said they would fire her if she didn’t leave voluntarily.

The Queen of Toxicity allegedly hit a car while driving in Mount Laurel and left the scene of the accident.  A Lumberton police officer she had hired was sent to her home to arrest her.  Records show she was charged with Endangering-Abuse/Neglect of a Child by Caretaker and Cruelty and Neglect of Children.

She was also charged with operating her 2019 Blue BMW under the influence of liquor or drugs, driving with an open container of alcohol or unsealed cannabis in her motor vehicle, careless driving likely to endanger a person or property, reckless driving, crossing over marked lines in traffic, and driving with an expired license.

In 2023, while serving as deputy mayor, LaPlaca was arrested for assaulting her husband, Jason Carty, a controversial political activist.  Carty was also arrested.  He later accepted responsibility, and the charges against LaPlaca were dropped.

An incident report filed in 2017 revealed a verbal argument after “LaPlaca arrived home intoxicated,” police records show.  Carty, then her boyfriend, left the house they shared with his young son voluntarily.

Carty told the New Jersey Globe in 2023 that he was “the bad guy in that incident.”

“I was the one at fault.  We were both drinking,” Carty said.  “While Gina was in college, she was the victim of domestic violence by her boyfriend.  She is a domestic violence survivor.”

Carty had also reported a previous domestic violence incident involving LaPlaca, but he also disputes that.

“I never reported any domestic violence incidents.   The police came to the house for an argument and no was charged and no allegations were made,” he said at the time.  “I was the bad guy in that incident and I agreed to leave the house at the time.”

Earlier this month, LaPlaca was escorted out of a Mount Holly Fire Commission meeting after an outburst.

A former Assembly staffer and lobbyist, LaPlaca was the Democratic nominee for State Assembly in the 8th district in 2019.

LaPlaca did not immediately respond to a voicemail message left on her cell phone, but Carty did release a statement.

“Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and never get help. Gina is someone who has struggled, and is now getting the help she needs. 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,” he said.  “Gina is a loving and caring mother and step mom to our son and her step son.  Our oldest is a teenager and can see the unkind things being said online.  I ask simply that you respect our privacy, be better humans and please show some compassion, thank you.”

This story was updated on March 18 at 10:13 AM and again at 12:20 PM.