Massachusetts state senator resigns after being jailed for violating probation

Mass. state senator resigns after being jailed

BOSTON — A Massachusetts senator who blamed failed alcohol tests on his toothpaste has resigned after he was jailed for violating his probation in a hit-and-run accident.

In his letter of resignation Tuesday, Cambridge Democrat Anthony Galluccio apologized and took responsibility for the October accident, but maintained his innocence on the probation violation.

Galluccio pleaded guilty last month to leaving the scene of an accident. As part of his probation, the senator was ordered to abstain from alcohol and submit to random testing.

Three days after his guilty plea, he tested positive for alcohol during two breath screenings.

Galluccio claimed the positive readings were the result of toothpastes that contain sorbitol, a sugar alcohol and artificial sweetener.