New Info. Released About Middletown Police Officer Charged With Theft

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown Police Department released more information about one of its own officers who is accused of stealing multiple times from the self-checkout lanes of a local store:

The officer is Brenden Santiago, 36, who lives in Tinton Falls. On Thursday, he was charged with one count of third-degree shoplifting and one count of fourth-degree attempted shoplifting.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor announced his arrest Thursday afternoon. However, later that same day the Middletown Police Department released its own press release to the media — likely to show that the department takes the charges seriously, and no favoritism was shown for a sworn officer accused of a crime.

It was Middletown Police who first received a tip that Santiago was allegedly stealing. This was on January 14, said the department.

"Middletown Twp. Police became aware of information concerning an unknown officer possibly being involved in acts of shoplifting. This information was immediately investigated by members of the Middletown Police Office of Professional Standards, who found there was sufficient cause to contact the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office."

A joint investigation was initiated and on January 18, Santiago was suspended with pay. Six days later, criminal charges were filed against him, on Jan. 24. Santiago was relieved of duty and suspended without pay that same day.

Santiago is charged with one count of theft in an amount over $500 and one count of attempted theft in an amount over $300.

The prosecutor says Santiago “skip-scanned” items, which is where he scanned multiple less-expensive items, and deliberately did not scan more-expensive items— or he pretended to scan then in the self-checkout lanes. He did this six different occasions at various locations of a discount chain store from mid- to late December 2023, said the prosecutor.

In one instance, Santiago was wearing a Middletown Police Department uniform while committing the alleged theft.

"During one of the alleged incidents, while off duty, Santiago was seen wearing his Middletown police uniform including a police jacket and ball cap clearly displaying the Middletown Police Department patch insignia," said Middletown Police.

"That Santiago chose to violate his oath of office in which he swore to uphold the law is extremely disappointing, but the fact that he is further alleged to have shoplifted merchandise while dressed in his police uniform is particularly disgraceful," said Middletown Police Chief R. Craig Weber.

“The criminal conduct alleged in the complaints filed against Patrolman Santiago are deeply troubling and do not reflect the values of our agency," he continued. "We firmly believe that trust and integrity are the essential cornerstones of policing. The ability of the police department to maintain the trust and confidence of the public is of the utmost importance. This incident demonstrates both the importance and the effectiveness of the police professional standards function in identifying and addressing misconduct and underscores the commitment of the Middletown Township Police Department and its members to hold our police officers and one another to the highest professional and ethical standards.”

Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The original story on Thursday: Middletown Police Officer Accused Of Theft In Self-Checkout Lanes