The community of Dumont, New Jersey, and the Jersey City Police Department were rocked by the news of the arrest of Andrew LaBruno, 44, on November 17. A man who was recently a sitting mayor and a current police sergeant, LaBruno now faces a grim list of serious charges, including first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. His arrest marks a shocking turn for a figure previously known for public service and a recent run for the New Jersey Assembly.
The investigation was launched after the Englewood Police Department alerted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office about an alleged sexual assault involving a juvenile. Investigators quickly determined that LaBruno, who had no prior connection to the victim, made contact with the minor through a social media platform. This online exchange led to an arranged in-person meeting at the victim’s Englewood home while the juvenile was alone, where the devastating assault is alleged to have occurred.
Details from court documents reveal the disturbing nature of the accusations. Authorities allege that LaBruno used a shocking method to overpower the teenage victim. He is accused of spraying an unknown substance into his hand and then pressing it over the victim’s mouth, effectively incapacitating the child before allegedly forcing sexual acts. This chilling element adds another layer of gravity to the already severe criminal charges he is facing.
The incident came to an abrupt end when the victim’s father returned home unexpectedly during the alleged assault and immediately contacted law enforcement. LaBruno was later apprehended at a private residence in Englewood while attempting to retrieve his cell phone. His professional life quickly collapsed following the arrest; the Jersey City Police Department suspended him without pay, recognizing the severity of the charges brought against one of their high-ranking officers.
LaBruno, who served as Dumont’s mayor from 2020 to 2023, was immediately remanded to the Bergen County Jail following his arrest. He is being held there without bail pending a crucial pretrial detention hearing. This legal proceeding, scheduled for Friday in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ, will determine whether he must remain incarcerated until his trial, given the nature of the crimes and the evidence presented by the prosecution.
The arrest of a public figure and law enforcement officer on such horrific charges is a matter of profound concern, bringing a spotlight onto the case as it moves through the courts. While these are currently only accusations, the former mayor and police sergeant now faces a lengthy legal battle with the possibility of decades in prison if convicted. The outcome of his upcoming detention hearing will be the first major signpost in a case that is sure to grip the region.
