Suspect charged after six-month wait for DNA results
WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Watervliet Police has charged 23-year-old Justin I Santiago in connection to a 2024 window-smashing spree. The incident happened at the Highland Club Apartments.
The report came in last October that a vehicle had been vandalized at the apartment complex. It wasn't until officers arrived on scene that they realized the situation was much worse. "Discovered that multiple vehicles had been vandalized. More specifically, the windows had been shattered out," stated Public Information Officer Eric Roy.
Surveillance cameras captured the suspect on video. Officer Roy said while Santiago's identity was unknown at the time, he did leave something important behind:
"They did notice some blood on a couple of the windows. That DNA evidence was sent to the New York State Police lab."
Officials were able to make a match from their databases. Santiago's arrest warrant followed. But because the DNA results took until the beginning of April to come back, police were unable to locate him at the addresses listed on file.
"The issue is the time that it takes. These people are on the lam so by the time that we have identified that subject, we are now playing catch-up to try and track them down," described Officer Roy. Menands Police Department detained Santiago for an unrelated incident at the end of April and then turned him over to Watervliet.
To speed up the DNA process to take 90 minutes rather than months, Watervliet Police Department is applying for a grant. "It would be a DNA-testing kit that would allow us to obtain results for a positive match. If that grant is achieved, we are looking to open up to other agencies in the Capital Region to be able to use the rapid kit that we've applied for."
Santiago was charged with criminal mischief in the third degree, a class e felony, and then released with an appearance ticket to City Court.
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