Former N.J. police officer gets 5 years in prison in 2021 hit-and-run death
Aug. 2 (UPI) -- A former Newark, N.J., police officer was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday for killing a nurse with his car while driving intoxicated off duty.
After hitting the man, the former officer put the victim in his car and drove to his mother's house.
Louis Santiago, 26, pleaded guilty to second-degree official misconduct, second-degree disturbing human remains and second-degree vehicular homicide as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Santiago also pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution for lying to police on the day of the incident.
On Nov. 1, 2021, Louis Santiago, 26, struck Damian Dymka, 29, with his car early in the morning while driving on the Garden State Parkway.
Santiago then put Dymka's body into his vehicle with the help of his passenger, Alberto Guzman, and drove to his mother's house.
After speaking with his parents, Santiago returned to the scene of the crash with the body.
"As an officer of the law, I should have never been behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. I should have acted accordingly after realizing what exactly was going on, but I completely panicked," Santiago told the court.
"My biggest regret was not calling Bloomfield PD on that night in front of my house," Santiago continued.
"There was no concern for the humanity of the young man who was dying in the street," prosecutor Adam Wells said in court.
Wells said he had consulted with Dymka's family prior to offering the plea deal.
"In consultation with Mr. Dymka's family, the victim's family, the state did agree to extend this plea offer, to resolve this matter so that the Dymka family and everyone else can move forward, can close this chapter and try to move on," Wells said.
Guzman and Santiago's father were both indicted by a grand jury in July 2022.
Guzman was indicted for conspiracy to desecrate human remains and evidence tampering.
"That is something that is totally unacceptable, and law enforcement officers -- people in this business --- are held to a higher standard," said Judge Ronald Wigler.
"I know everyone wishes we can rewind and take this back, most of all you and the Dymka family, but that's obviously not possible," said Wigler.
Dymka's father, Andrzej Dymka told the court, "This is a more disgusting case than what many people read and can hear."
