Front Page Detectives
BREAKING NEWS

NJ cop hit, killed pedestrian and then removed the body from the scene: prosecutors

essex
Source: Essex County Prosecutor's Office; MEGA

Nov. 26 2021, Published 11:24 a.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to Email

A police officer in New Jersey is accused of killing a pedestrian and removing the body from the scene.

Article continues below advertisement

Louis Santiago, 25, was charged with a host of crimes in connection to the Nov. 1 incident, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s office.

Around 3 a.m. Nov. 1, Santiago was driving a Honda Accord on the Garden State Parkway, according to prosecutors. He didn’t maintain his lane and went on to the shoulder and hit Damien Z. Dymka, 29.

Article continues below advertisement

After the collision, neither Santiago nor Albert Guzman, a passenger in the car, called 911 or gave aid, according to prosecutors. They returned to the scene multiple times before Santiago loaded the victim in the car and took him from the scene.

MORE ON:
New Jersey

Santiago took the remains to his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey. There, Santiago and his mother, Annette Santiago, discussed what to do with the body, prosecutors said. Santiago then went back to the scene.

Article continues below advertisement

Santiago’s father, a lieutenant with the Newark police, called 911 to say his son was involved in a crash, police said. When the New Jersey State Police arrived, the victim was dead in the back seat of the car.

Louis Santiago was charged with vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, endangering an injured victim, desecrating/moving human remains, hindering one’s own apprehension, conspiracy to hinder prosecution, tampering with physical evidence, obstructing the administration of law and two counts of official misconduct.

Santiago is a police officer with Newark police.

Guzman and Annette Santiago were charged with conspiracy to desecrate human remains, hindering apprehension and conspiracy to hinder apprehension and tamper with physical evidence.

Advertisement

Become a Front Page Detective

Sign up to receive breaking
Front Page Detectives
news and exclusive investigations.

More Stories

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2024 FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES™️. A DIVISION OF EMPIRE MEDIA GROUP INC. FRONT PAGE DETECTIVES is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.