Sussex GOP chairman faces gun charges after road rage incident with toddler nearby, cops say

☑️Sussex GOP Chair Joseph Labarbera faces charges after a reported road rage incident

☑️The driver told police his 18-month-old daughter was in the direct line of fire

☑️Democrats want Labarbera out, while GOP leaders are calling for a leave of absence

STILLWATER — A road rage confrontation involving a gun and an 18-month-old child led to the arrest of Sussex County Republican Chairman Joseph Labarbera on Saturday, according to court documents.

Labarbera pleaded not guilty in municipal court and was released Sunday, the New Jersey Globe reported. He was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering a child by a non-caretaker, aggravated assault with a firearm, and unjustified display of a gun by a gun permit carrier.

According to a criminal complaint, the driver of a Kia Telluride told State Police that Labarbera, who was driving a Mercedes SUV, was tailgating him. The Kia driver claimed he pulled over to allow the Mercedes to pass, but Labarbera also pulled over, and the men argued.

The Kia driver told a 911 operator that Labarbera pointed a Sig Sauer P365X handgun at him and threatened to shoot. He also told state troopers that his 18-month-old daughter was in the direct line of fire.

Both drivers called 911, with Labarbera telling the operator that he had a permit to carry a gun.

What the drivers told police

State Police, who provide local police coverage for Stillwater, located both vehicles and frisked the drivers. No weapons were found on either driver, but Labarbera told troopers his gun was in the center console of his vehicle, according to the affidavit. Troopers found it and removed it.

Labarbera told troopers he was following the Kia at two or three car lengths behind and stopped to check on the driver when the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road with its hazards on, according to the complaint. Labarbera said the driver called him an "asshole" and threatened to shoot him, which led him to unholster his weapon, according to the documents. Troopers did not find a gun in the Kia.

Political pressure grows after arrest

The Sussex County Democratic Committee on Monday demanded that Labarbera resign, calling the allegation "deeply disturbing" and "particularly egregious" because a child was present and the incident involved an influential "high profile political leadership."

LaBarbera told NJ.com in a text that he did nothing wrong and accused the driver of "trying to audition for the victim role in a play he himself created."

In a statement to the New Jersey Globe, state Sen. Parker Space, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, Assemblyman Michael Inganamort and Commissioners Jill Space, Jack DeGroot, Chris Carney, Alan Henderson and David Silverthorne called for Labarbera to take a leave of absence to focus on his legal issues.

The Republican officials said Labarbera should step aside temporarily while he deals with the allegations, according to the New Jersey Globe.

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