A former New Jersey police officer struck and killed a nurse with his car, drove the body home, and then came back to the scene to talk to his parents. On Wednesday, the officer was given a five-year prison sentence.
The 26-year-old Louis Santiago entered a guilty plea to three felony counts related to driving while drunk in the collision that claimed Damian Dymka’s life on November 1, 2021.
Santiago apologized to Dymka’s family during a tearful hearing in Essex County Court in Newark, and the victim’s father asked for forgiveness from the former Newark police officer.
Gazing straight at Santiago, Andrzej Dymka murmured, “I forgive you, boy.” “I recognize that you are a young individual. My son died. Grateful that you are still with us.
And here’s your chance to turn your life around,” he continued. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”
About three in the morning, after drifting into the Garden State Parkway’s shoulder, Santiago, who was intoxicated and off duty, collided with Dymka.
Dymka had spent the whole night partying in his Halloween costume.
The victim’s body was loaded into the back of the car by Santiago and his passenger, Alberto Guzman, and they drove to Santiago’s house in nearby Bloomfield instead of providing assistance or contacting the authorities.
Santiago drove Dymka’s body back to the scene after talking to his parents, Annette and Luis, a lieutenant in the Newark Police Department.
Born in Poland and raised in Garfield, New Jersey, Dymka, 29, was declared deceased at 5:27 a.m., approximately two and a half hours following his impact. Why he was strolling along the busy highway is unknown.
According to an Essex County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman, blunt force trauma was the cause of death.
In court, Santiago said, “To Damian’s family and friends, I know absolutely nothing I say will ease your pain, but I am truly sorry.” “I meant nothing by this. This happened by accident.
“It was unacceptable what I did that night and the next morning,” he continued. It is improper for me to drive after drinking as a law enforcement officer. When I realized exactly what was happening, I should have responded appropriately, but I went into full panic mode.
Adam Wells, the prosecutor, called Santiago’s acts that evening “disgusting” and “despicable.”
According to Wells, “there was no regard for the humanity of that young man who was dying in the street.” “His only concerns were about getting away with something, no matter who he hurt, and protecting himself and covering up his wrongdoing.”
Following the incident, Guzman, Santiago, and his mother were all charged.
Santiago was accused with 12 felonies, including putting an injured person in danger and reckless vehicular homicide. Santiago’s mother and cousin Guzman were accused of tampering with evidence and other related offenses.
In July 2022, a grand jury returned indictments against Santiago, Guzman, and Santiago’s father but declined to indict his mother.
Luis Santiago was accused of obstructing the legal process by giving the police misleading information the morning of the event. After entering a guilty plea, he was given a two-year probationary term on Wednesday.
“I was so sorry not to have called Bloomfield Police Department that night in front of my house,” Luis Santiago, a former Newark police officer, stated in court. He went on, “I should have stayed at home, arrested Louis and my nephew, and called the appropriate authorities.”
In addition to pleading guilty to a summons for driving while intoxicated, Santiago also entered a guilty plea to three charges: second-degree vehicular homicide, second-degree distressing human remains, and second-degree official misconduct.
Judge Ronald Wigler of Essex County Superior Court remarked, “This was a horrible decision you had made on that one night and it’s a decision that’s going impact you, your family, and the Dymka family forever.” “I know everyone wishes we could go back in time and make this all right, especially you and the Dymka family, but it’s just not feasible.”
Guzman entered a pretrial intervention program after entering a guilty plea to a charge of impeding prosecution.
Dymka’s father stated following the court proceedings that he believed Santiago’s prison term was appropriate in its entirety.
“My pain remains the same, regardless of the sentence – whether it be five, ten, or 100 years,” he declared. “Daman is the only son I have.”