NEWARK, N.J. (WCBS 880) — A New Jersey police officer has been charged for allegedly hitting a person with his car and taking the victim before returning to the scene with the body.
The Essex County prosecutor announced Wednesday that Newark police officer Louis Santiago, 25, of Bloomfield, has been charged with reckless vehicular homicide, desecrating human remains, and other charges in connection to the Garden State Parkway incident.
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According to investigators, on Nov. 1 around 3 a.m., a Honda Accord driven by Santiago, who was off-duty, traveled northbound on the Garden State Parkway near Exit 151 in Bloomfield.
Officials said Santiago didn’t stay in his lane and traveled into the right shoulder, hitting Damian Dymka, a 29-year-old nurse from Garfield.
Neither Santiago nor his passenger, Albert Guzman, 25, of Newark, called 911, according to prosecutors, but they did return to the scene multiple times before loading the victim into the car and departing.
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Santiago allegedly took the body to his home, where Santiago, Guzman and Santiago’s mother, Annette Santiago, 53, discussed what they should do. Ultimately, officials said Santiago returned to the scene.
According to a news release, Louis Santiago’s father, a lieutenant in the Newark Police Department, called 911 to report that his son was in an accident. When state police arrived, the victim was allegedly found dead in the back seat of the car.
In addition to vehicular homicide, Louis Santiago was charged with leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, endangering an injured victim, conspiracy to hinder prosecution, and official misconduct.
Guzman and Annette Santiago were charged with conspiracy to desecrate human remains, hindering apprehension, and conspiracy to hinder apprehension and tamper with physical evidence.
All three have been charged and released under certain conditions.