Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
End of Watch: Sunday, August 16, 2009
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: 18715
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 16, 2009
Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 132 years prison
Sergenat Jorge Sanchez-Santiago and Lieutenant Benjamin Santiago-Fragoso were shot and killed as they transported a prisoner to jail.
The prisoner was somehow able to obtain one of the officers' weapons. Sergeant Sanchez-Santiago was shot once in the head and Lieutenant Santiago-Fragoso was shot three times in the chest and critically wounded. Lieutenant Santiago-Fragoso succumbed to his wounds five weeks later.
The suspect fled the scene but was arrested the next day after an extensive search by the FBI, USMS and the Puerto Rico Police Department. The FBI has assumed jurisdiction of the case as a car jacking incident. The suspect was convicted and sentenced to 132 years in prison.
Sergeant Sanchez-Santiago had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 17 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.