NEWARK POLICE OFFICER CHARGED AFTER A COLLISION ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A BERGEN COUNTY MAN
In An Attempt To Avoid Prosecution A Off Duty Newark Police Officer Has Been Charged With Reckless Vehicular Homicide & Other Offenses In The November 1, 2021 Pedestrian Collision."
November 25, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
NEWARK, NJ.- After striking a pedestrian on The Garden State Parkway, an Off Duty Newark Police Officer along with his passenger places the deceased body of a 29-Year-Old Damian Z. Dymka in his car and flees the scene to his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
On Wednesday, November 24, 2021 Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced that a Newark Police Officer, Louis Santiago, 25, of Bloomfield, New Jersey has been Charged with Reckless Vehicular Homicide; Desecrating Human Remains; and other related offenses after hitting a Pedestrian on the Garden State Parkway, leaving the scene, then coming back and putting the victim in his car and then later returning to scene with the victim's deceased body.
Additionally Charged in the incident was Albert Guzman, 25, of Newark, New Jersey, the passenger in the car. Mr. Guzman has been Charged with Conspiracy to Desecrate Human Remains; Hindering Apprehension; Conspiracy to Hinder Apprehension; and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Annette Santiago, 53, the Mother of Louis Santiago has been Charged with Conspiracy to Desecrate Human Remains; Hindering Apprehension; Conspiracy to Hinder Apprehension; and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The preliminary investigation revealed that on November 1, 2021, at approximately 3:00 a.m., a 2005 Honda Civic operated by Mr. Santiago, who was Off Duty at that time, was traveling Northbound on The Garden State Parkway, near Exit 151. Mr. Santiago failed to maintain his lane and traveled on to the Right Shoulder of The Parkway Striking Damian Z. Dymka, 29, a Nurse from Garfield in Bergen County, New Jersey.
It is alleged that after striking the victim, neither Mr. Santiago nor Mr. Guzman called 911 or rendered aid, but returned to the scene multiple times before Mr. Santiago loaded the victim into the Honda and removed him from the scene. Mr. Santiago then took the body to his home in Bloomfield where Mr. Santiago, his Mother and Mr. Guzman discussed what to do with the body. Eventually Mr. Santiago returned to the scene with the deceased body in his car.
Mr. Santiago's Father, who is a Lieutenant with The Newark Police Department called 911 and reported that his son had been involved in an accident. When Members of The New Jersey State Police arrived on the scene, Police Officers found the deceased body of Damian Z. Dymka in the rear seat of Mr. Santiago's Honda Civic.
In addition, Mr. Santiago has been Charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death; Endangering an Injured Victim; Desecrating and or Moving Human Remains; Hindering One's Own Apprehension; Conspiracy to Hinder Prosecution; Tampering with Physical Evidence; Obstruction of The Administration of Law; and Two Counts of Official Misconduct.
All Three were Arrested, Charged on the Offenses and Released on Pretrial Conditions. No information was available as whether Mr. Santiago has been Suspended, or Terminated from his employment with The Newark Police Department.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Outlined In This Publication Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER NOVEMBER 25, 2021: LAW, ESSEX: