Lumberton won’t release footage, 911 call of deputy mayor arrested for assault before Election Day

A law firm representing Lumberton Township has declined to accelerate the fulfillment of a request for body camera footage, a 911 call, and a police report related to the arrest of Deputy Mayor Gina LaPlaca on Friday night – a move that creates the impression, either deliberately or inadvertently – that the municipality wants to prevent the public from learning more about the arrest before Election Day.

LaPlaca was charged with assaulting her husband, political activist Jason Carty, late Friday night.

She is up for re-election in next week’s election.

The New Jersey Globe had asked the township to expedite the fulfillment of the request made under the state’s Open Public Records Act so that voters might receive the benefit of an accurate picture of the events that led to LaPlaca’s arrest before they voted.  The statute gives Lumberton seven business days.

The law firm, Florio Perucci, was appointed by the township committee at the request of LaPlaca, who was mayor at the time.  Camden County Commissioner Louis Cappelli is a partner at the firm.  The police chief, Anthony Nippins, was also appointed by LaPlaca and a one-party governing body.

Wade Dickey, an associate at the firm, told the New Jersey Globe in a letter the matter is “currently under an active investigation and the subject of a pending municipal court case.”

It’s not immediately clear why Lumberton remains in control of an investigation where nearly everyone involved has some sort of conflict.

Carty, whose statements to police caused LaPlaca to be arrested later, subsequently told the New Jersey Globe that he was at fault.

The Republican candidates in the November 7 election, Mark Galey and Christopher Tommins, supported the pre-election release of all information related to LaPlaca’s arrest.

“We strongly agree that the voters of Lumberton deserve the ability to review all facts in the incident that led to Deputy Mayor LaPlaca being arrested and charged with assault so they can head to the polls next week as fully informed voters,” they said in a statement.  “We encourage the Township to grant the press their request and expedite the release of all body camera footage, documents, and reports, especially as our opponents state that such facts would make clear that the deputy mayor did nothing wrong.”