N.J. officer accused of hitting pedestrian, taking body home to his Mother

[sds71]

[URL='https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/garfield/2021/11/24/newark-nj-police-officer-charged-garden-state-parkway-crash/8751004002/']The officer, 25-year-old Louis Santiago, from Bloomfield, was driving on the shoulder of the Parkway going north around 3 a.m. when he allegedly struck Damian Dymka, 29, a nurse from Garfield. Authorities said that after hitting Dymka near exit 151, Santiago and his passenger, Albert Guzman, 25, left the scene, before returning multiple times before loading the victim into the car. Neither called 911 or attempted to render aid to the victim, authorities said.

"Santiago then took the body to his home in Bloomfield where he, his mother and Guzman allegedly discussed what to do with the body," the prosecutor's office stated.

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[URL="https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/garfield/2021/11/24/newark-nj-police-officer-charged-garden-state-parkway-crash/8751004002/"]Newark police officer charged in Garden State Parkway crash
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https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/new-jersey-police-officer-accused-of-hitting-
killing-man-taking-body-home/67-d4b3b339-055f-4e07-b1f4-e6ee1065cd49

 

[kkdj]

The officer, 25-year-old Louis Santiago, from Bloomfield, was driving on the shoulder of the Parkway going north around 3 a.m. when he allegedly struck Damian Dymka, 29, a nurse from Garfield. Authorities said that after hitting Dymka near exit 151, Santiago and his passenger, Albert Guzman, 25, left the scene, before returning multiple times before loading the victim into the car. Neither called 911 or attempted to render aid to the victim, authorities said.

"Santiago then took the body to his home in Bloomfield where he, his mother and Guzman allegedly discussed what to do with the body," the prosecutor's office stated.


Newark police officer charged in Garden State Parkway crash

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/crime/new-jersey-police-officer-accused-of-hitting-
killing-man-taking-body-home/67-d4b3b339-055f-4e07-b1f4-e6ee1065cd49

WTH??????

 

[tara83]

Not much shocks me anymore but this is unbelievable.I can't imagine taking a body home to my mom and she helps me want to hide it.What a sick family.

 

[Namlok04]

It took his dad (Who is also Newark PD!!) to call 911 and turn him in, I'd like to hear that tape!

 

[tlcya]

According to an affidavit of probable cause, 25-year-old Albert Guzman, of Newark, who was allegedly a passenger in the car, told Santiago's mother, 53-year-old Annette Santiago, that her son hit the victim "while driving drunk and that the body was in the Accord."
NJ officer was intoxicated before killing pedestrian, loading body in car: Affidavit

An off-duty New Jersey police officer accused of striking and killing a nurse with his car was under the influence of alcohol and using his cell phone when he fatally struck the victim, who was dressed as a werewolf at the time, it was claimed.

Newark officer Louis Santiago, 25, faces charges of driving while intoxicated, vehicular homicide, desecrating human remains, and more in the November 1 death of Damian Dymka, a 29-year-old nurse.
Newark cop was intoxicated, on his cell phone when he struck and killed nurse with his car | Daily Mail Online

 

[Springrain]

Um, what???

 

[Namlok04]

According to an affidavit of probable cause, 25-year-old Albert Guzman, of Newark, who was allegedly a passenger in the car, told Santiago's mother, 53-year-old Annette Santiago, that her son hit the victim "while driving drunk and that the body was in the Accord."
NJ officer was intoxicated before killing pedestrian, loading body in car: Affidavit

An off-duty New Jersey police officer accused of striking and killing a nurse with his car was under the influence of alcohol and using his cell phone when he fatally struck the victim, who was dressed as a werewolf at the time, it was claimed.

Newark officer Louis Santiago, 25, faces charges of driving while intoxicated, vehicular homicide, desecrating human remains, and more in the November 1 death of Damian Dymka, a 29-year-old nurse.
Newark cop was intoxicated, on his cell phone when he struck and killed nurse with his car | Daily Mail Online

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I had a sick feeling it was drunk or distracted driving. Who cares what the pedestrian was wearing???
So if the driver was drunk, was the passenger drunk too?? Can't trust cops in Jersey not to drink and drive, I guess.

 

[Bit of hope]

Hummmm??! Strange interpretation of "to serve and protect"! WTH!

 

[Grammar]

It took his dad (Who is also Newark PD!!) to call 911 and turn him in, I'd like to hear that tape!

It must have shredded that man’s heart to realize what an idiot his son was and to have to turn him in. I feel so bad for that man but I respect his bravery too.

 

[weepingangel]

A cop fatally struck a nurse. His actions after the crash shock the victim’s loved ones.
Much more at link
Dymka would be pronounced dead at the scene — but not until more than two hours later.

In those two hours, Santiago drove home with Dymka’s body in the back seat and then returned to the crash site having never called 911 or attempted to render aid to the man, prosecutors say.

“Put that body back where you hit it,” Annette Santiago allegedly told her son when he showed up at their home, according to prosecutors.


Dymka’s friends and family, meanwhile, are still reeling in shock and grief. Some are tormented by haunting questions.

What if the officer had immediately called 911? Could Damian have been saved?

“We can’t know that because of one person who was incredibly selfish,” said Miranda Stone, a close friend who met Dymka when they were students at Bergen Community College.

 

[rosesfromangels]

The mother telling sonny to put the body back where he hit it, and the werewolf costume add a twilight zone element to this outrageous crime. Crazy.

amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Shamrock1]

Newark police officers, father and son, indicted in Parkway crash that killed a nurse

Lt. Luis Santiago and his son, Officer Louis Santiago, are charged in the death of Damian Z. Dymka, a nurse who was struck and killed as he walked on the shoulder of the Garden State Parkway about 3 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2021.

www.nj.com

 

[Bhodie]

I cannot comment how I would really like to as I fear I would get booted out, with that being said this appears to be some of the most inept group of individuals. From not calling calling 911 immediately, not rendering aid and the "return the body back where you hit it" is just bizarre for a LE family. Not one of those 4 people had an ounce of humanity in them, not one?

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

this happened on November 1, which starts at midnight, which is the day after October 31, which is Halloween, hence the costume... IMO

Regardless, disgusting.

Following.

Also, this: Police lieutenant charged with interfering in probe of cop son’s crash that killed a nurse

and this: father & son indicted

Newark police officers, father and son, indicted in Parkway crash that killed a nurse

Lt. Luis Santiago and his son, Officer Louis Santiago, are charged in the death of Damian Z. Dymka, a nurse who was struck and killed as he walked on the shoulder of the Garden State Parkway about 3 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2021.

www.nj.com

ETA: Charges against mom all dropped

 

[Monsterhunter]

This whole case is wild. "Put that back where you found it" is classic mom advice, except...not in this situation. What a positively wild case. I feel bad for the dad who had to turn his own son in.