Former Cop Who Held Gun to Bowie Man's Head Headed to Prison

BOWIE, MD — A belligerent former Prince George’s County Police officer who was convicted of assault for holding a gun to a man’s head outside his Bowie home – and then expected the victim to apologize – is headed to prison.

Former Police Officer Jenchesky Santiago, 26, was convicted last month of first- and second-degree assault, misconduct in office and other misdemeanor charges for the encounter, which occurred while he was on duty on May 10, 2014. A grand jury indicted Santiago in March 2015; he was fired on Dec. 18, 2015.

Santiago faced up to 45 years in prison for the armed encounter, but will serve the minimum of five years in prison without a chance for parole, WTOP reports.

WUSA TV reports a cell phone video showed Santiago’s interaction with driver William Cunningham, who had parked in front of his Bowie home. Santiago questioned Cunningham and a passenger about what they were doing there and said they were parked illegally, even though they had done so previously without issue.

Cunningham told Santiago he was dropping off his cousin and lived at the house. When the passenger got out of the car, Santiago allegedly blocked the path to the home and pulled out his gun, authorities said. He forced the man back to the vehicle with a gun to his head.

At one point, Santiago pointed the gun at the man’s mouth, prosecutors said.

Cunningham was not arrested or charged with a crime. He testified that he feared for his life and that Santiago acted aggressively. WTOP reports Cunningham has filed a civil lawsuit against Officer Santiago.

The defense argued that Santiago violated department policy and should not be a police officer, but his attorney said Cunningham defied the officer’s orders, had an attitude and even dared Santiago to fight him at one point.

Santiago’s family described him in court as a caring man devoted to his two young children.

But prosecutors said Santiago claimed in a phone call from jail that “even after this case that he was owed an apology from the victim,” WTOP reports.