A Bronx gangbanger who has been arrested nine times this year on a variety of outrageous accusations is now free on the streets of New York City after being repeatedly released without bond.
Despite facing seven ongoing cases in the Bronx on accusations ranging from intent to sell dangerous drugs, grand theft of cars, possession of weapons, and domestic abuse, law enforcement sources report that alleged Latin Kings member Emmanuel Santiago, 32, remains under arrest.
The brazen gangster was most recently arrested following a December heist in the Bronx in which he broke into a police officer’s car and stole an arsenal of gear, including gun belts and ammunition, bulletproof vests, a riot shield and baton, mace, handcuffs, and a radio, according to law enforcement sources.
Despite a laundry list of alleged violations, including at least 31 domestic incidents ranging from claimed assaults to death threats against women, Santiago has frequently been released on non-monetary bail, according to law enforcement sources.
Despite being re-arrested on bench warrants for failing to appear in court, Santiago continued to build his criminal record.
He is just one of many New York City recidivists who have been released without bail—oonly to be apprehended again once out—ssince state lawmakers in Albany implemented sweeping criminal justice reforms in 2019.
The reforms eliminated cash bail for the majority of nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors, increasing problems caused by legislation enacted in 1971 that prohibited judges from assessing the risk of allowing someone back on the street while establishing bond.
“If this guy is who Albany had in mind when they conceived of this bail reform, then I see it’s going exactly as planned—the march forward for the sake of ideology,” one frustrated law enforcement source told The Post.
“Albany and reformers think simply not jailing criminals is championing criminal justice reform, but it’s not, especially if criminals keep committing the same crimes without any corrective action.”
Recent crime data from the Bronx reveals a year-to-date increase.
According to NYPD estimates, rape in the East Bronx has increased by 175%, felony assault by 18%, grand larceny by 70%, and major crimes overall by 27%.
Other statistics indicate that serial criminals are to blame for significant amounts of crime; this year, the NYPD reported that only 327 people were responsible for 30% of the city’s shoplifting crimes in 2022.
This results in 6,600 arrests of recidivists, or more than 20 times each.
Also in 2022, the NYPD reported that only ten criminals had been arrested since bail reform was implemented in 2020.
“And that’s the real problem with recidivism—iit is not the sheer number of arrests, but the persistent thought or mindset of disregard for a functioning society,” a source close to law enforcement said.
“The reforms apparently don’t treat a known member of the Latin Kings differently than a jaywalker.”
The Post has contacted both the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the State Office of Court Administration.
During a raid on a suspected gambling “slap house” in Garden Grove (GGPD photo), suspects prepared for processing.
According to authorities, seventeen people were arrested on Thursday at a suspected “slaphouse” in Garden Grove for illegal gaming.
The Garden Grove Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit was investigating the use of a house on 9700 Stanford Avenue (between Gilbert and Brookhurst streets).The SIU investigators served a search warrant with the assistance of various GGPD units, SWAT, as well as the Santa Ana and Seal Beach police departments.
They discovered eight gambling machines, a loaded AR-style fully automatic rifle, cash, and illegal substances.
Those arrested faced a range of charges, including gambling, drug possession, and/or warrants.
