Ex-NJ Assembly Candidate Used Chemical On Child Sex Assault Victim, Records Show

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A former state Assembly candidate who was arrested Monday for sexually assaulting a child had used a chemical substance to render the victim "incapacitated," court records show.

Andrew LaBruno, 44, was charged Monday with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, and endangering a child, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.

Prosecutors told Patch on Wednesday that LaBruno will remain in the Bergen County jail for the time being, after undergoing a detention hearing Tuesday.

LaBruno had met the victim on social media, then went to his home in Englewood Monday while the minor was alone, prosecutors said Tuesday.

According to a complaint filed by Englewood police, after LaBruno was inside the victim's home, he sprayed a substance on his own hand. According to the complaint, LaBruno put his hand over the child's mouth and nose, which made the victim "dizzy" and "incapacitated."

Then, LaBruno forced the victim to perform oral sex on him, the complaint says.

Police later recovered a controlled dangerous substance in connection with the incident, the report shows.

At some point, the Englewood police received a 911 call about the assault.

The child was taken to a medical facility to be treated, the complaint says.

LaBruno was brought to the Bergen County jail.

LaBruno had run as a Democrat for 39th District Assembly and narrowly lost earlier this month.

He was also a Jersey City police sergeant and had served as mayor of the Bergen County town of Dumont.

He was suspended from the police force after they got word of Monday's arrest, said a Jersey City public safety spokesperson.

Investigation Continues

LaBruno lived in Dumont with his wife and kids, according to candidate biographies.

Jersey City Police Department spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the police will assist the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office with the criminal investigation. The Police Department's Internal Affairs department will conduct its own investigation, she said.

PRIOR REPORTING: NJ Cop, Former Bergen County Mayor Sexually Assaulted Child He Met Online, Officials Say