Man who ran from cops, leaving infant strapped in car, gets 90 days

YOUNGSTOWN

A man pleading no contest Friday in municipal court to a charge of child endangering for leaving an infant in a running car when he ran from police earlier this year told Judge Elizabeth Kobly the baby is his son.

The judge told Hector Santiago, 24, that made a bad situation even worse.

“It’s your baby on top of it all. It’s your son,” Judge Kobly said. “Shame on you. People like you don’t deserve to be parents.”

Santiago pleaded no contest and was found guilty on charges of driving under suspension and child endangering, a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months.

Santiago was given a 90-day sentence and will get credit for the time served since he was taken into custody Jan. 21.

Read what he said about why he did it in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.