County Executive's Son Arrested On Drug Charges

The son of Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan was arrested Wednesday after smoking marijuana with two teenage Rutherford High School students at Donovan's home, police said.

Brendan Donovan, 20, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and being under the influence of marijuana, Rutherford Police Capt. Hal Ciser said.

Police received a call Wednesday from Rutherford High School at 1:23 p.m. informing them that a female student had left school and appeared to be under the influence of drugs, Ciser said.

Police were unable to locate her, but received another call 20 minutes later saying that the student returned to school with another female student, Ciser said.

The 17-year-old and the 16-year-old girls both appeared to be under the influence, Ciser said. They were transported to Hackensack University Medical Center.

Police learned that they smoked marijuana with Brendan Donovan at his Rutherford residence, where he lives with his mother, Ciser said. Police went to the home to make sure he didn't need treatment as well.

There, police learned that the girls took Xanax in addition to smoking marijuana, Ciser said. But Donovan "had nothing to do with the pills," Ciser said. 

After smoking with them, Donovan dropped the girls off at the high school, Ciser said. 

Donovan was processed and released after his arrest.

Jeanne Baratta, Kathleen Donovan's chief of staff, issued a statement in response to the arrest.

"This is a very difficult time for the County Executive and her family, and obviously a very personal matter," Baratta wrote. "Ms. Donovan appreciates people respecting her privacy and the privacy of her son.”