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Santiago had previously pled guilty to reckless vehicular homicide, desecrating human remains and driving under the influence in the death of Damian Dymka, a 29-year-old Garfield resident, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said.
On Nov. 1, 2021, at 3 a.m., Santiago, who was off duty and intoxicated, was traveling northbound on the Garden State Parkway near exit 151 and when he hit Dymka, who was walking on the shoulder, Stephens said. After hitting Dymka, neither Santiago nor Albert Guzman, his cousin, called 911 or rendered aid, but put the victim into his car and took him to his family's home in Bloomfield, Stephens said.
Santiago, his mother and his cousin, proceeded to discuss what to do with the body, Stephens said. Santiago's father, Luis, a former lieutenant in the Newark Police Department, traveled to the scene and gave misleading statements to New Jersey State Police, Stephens said.. He also failed to promptly call 911, Stephens said.
Luis Santiago was sentenced to two years probation while Guzman was admitted into a pre-trial intervention diversionary program, Stephens said.
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