A New Jersey mayor was filmed stumbling and losing her balance as she was arrested and accused of drunk driving with her young son in the car on St. Patrick’s Day, new police body camera footage showed.
Mayor Gina LaPlaca was arrested March 17 by police officers responding to a call about erratic driving, according to Lumberton Township Police.
Newly released police video obtained by NBC Philadelphia showed officers arrive at her home around 5:40 p.m. She was seen taking her son, who she had picked up from daycare, out of his car seat.
In the footage, she’s seen losing her balance at least twice. The mirror on the passenger side of her vehicle was severely damaged.
An officer was heard telling her “we got lots of calls where we had multiple claims that you ran a red light, you were swerving.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” LaPlaca replied.
Officers had her perform a field sobriety test and she was seen losing her balance when asked to balance on one leg. She was taken into custody for driving under the influence.
Inside the vehicle, police found a water bottle with alcohol and a small liquor bottle.
Once at the police station an officer told her her blood alcohol level was so high she had to go to the hospital.
According to a police summons, a witness shared video with police of LaPlaca driving erratically, almost hitting a utility pole.
Her court date is set for April 15. NBC News is out to Lumberton Township, LaPlaca, and an attorney for her for comment.
During a Lumberton Township Committee last week, community members asked her to resign.
“There is a huge black eye and black cloud over our town right now,” Amy Callahan, a Lumberton business owner and resident said, NBC Philadelphia reported. “I do believe that we need to move forward as a community and for us to truly turn the page. I believe that cannot occur with her on our council.”
Committee member Terrance Benson echoed calls for her to leave office.
“My personal opinion is for the mayor to step down and to heal herself,” Benson said.
LaPlaca’s husband, Jason Carty, a political activist posted on social media after her arrest saying she’s struggled with addiction, NBC Philadelphia reported.
