Cops, Courts & Fire -Bristol Borough
Witness Tells Lower Bucks Source What they Saw on the Night A Bristol Borough Firefighter was Struck & Killed
An after incident witness to the hit-and-run killing of a Bristol Borough Firemen has come forward in recent days with a troubling story to tell they shared with Lower Bucks Source.
Daniel Santiago, 53 a firefighter for the Goodwill Hose Company #3 in Bristol was struck and killed in the early hours of June 29 in the area of the 5500 block of Bristol Pike (AKA Route 13). The case has remained an open since then despite the dogged efforts of local and county investigators.
Credit: Submitted
Firefighter Daniel Santiago
Until now…
The witness approached Lower Bucks Source about one week ago and shared the following about the events on the night of June 29.
“He was going into Wawa, and I was coming out. We talked for a couple of minutes and then I went on my way,” the source said.
The witness went on…
So I’m walking down 13 southbound side, and all of a sudden something hits me in the back of the leg. I turn around and its a bike, and its mangled. Some feet ahead of me, near the entrance to the Villager Motel, I see a body laying there, and look up and see a vehicle making a right hand turn by the Dunkin Donuts. By this time a woman in a passing vehicle stopped and I think she called 911 to get help because I never saw her again.
The witness provided specific details about the described striking vehicle this publication will not release as it could hamper the police investigation.
The witness continued….
Moments later Bristol Township Police and First Responders arrived on scene.
“They started to mark off the area as I was standing there and one of the responding cops said “get the hell out here .”
I wanted to help …but I’m thinking he know’s I’m homeless and decided I had no help to offer police.”
As to why the source has kept this to themselves for so long, their response was “they didn’t want to talk to me then, why would they now?”
The source said he went back to the hotel where they were staying with a friend and watched investigators work the crime scene with a friend.
“Understand I wanted to help. I knew Danny, but once I was yelled at for being at the scene, I just moved on hoping they would catch the suspect some other way.
The source also said they did read the news accounts about the press conference held in Bristol Township by Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub in October of 2021. The hope of the presser was to offer a reward and reach out to the community seeking possible witnesses or anyone who might know something about vehicle involved killing of Santiago.
The Santiago family took part in the October 2021 press conference also. His brother Nick said he missed his “big brother” terribly.
“He was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt of his back”
Locals did all they could at the time to raise awareness and hope witnesses would come forward with helpful information. A hot dog fundraiser was held, raising over $2000.00 and attended by local, county and state officials.
Daniel Santiago
Credit: Submitted
Bucks County Crime Stoppers, through donations from State Rep’s. John Galloway state Rep. Tina Davis and the law firm of Stark & Stark, are added to the a reward of $1,000 to the $3000.00 collected by Santiago’s family.
Life long friend Ismael “Hermie” Rivera of Bristol said at the time,”we need to help his family get some justice and closure.“Hopefully this fundraiser is a step in that direction.”
Bristol Township Police said they couldn’t comment on the information Lower Bucks Source had come across.
“I would like to speak with anyone that witnessed the crash,” said lead investigator Bristol Township Detective Patrick Kitchenmam “the investigation is active and ongoing still.”
Lower Bucks Source contacted a member of Santiago’s family on Friday about the new information and they declined to comment at that time.
The approximate area where Daniel Santiago was struck on June, 29. 2021 according to Police Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
Anyone with information on any of these cases, should contact Bucks County Detectives or Bristol Township Police Detectives. Bucks County Detectives can be reached through our CrimeWatch site, which is BUCKSDA.ORG or by phone at 215-348-6354. Bristol Township Police Detectives can be reached at 215-785-4707.
You can also submit confidential tips to authorities here
Bristol Borough Fire Chief Herb Slack on Tuesday morning released the following statement on last nights Dorrance Street Fire.
It’s only been edited for style:
Credit: Submitted
Credit: Joe Nelson
Cops
Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans
Lower Bucks municipalities have declared disaster/snow emergencies in advance of the expected snow storm that the National Weather Service says will dump anywhere between 14 to 18 inches on the area.
A winter storm warning is still in effect from Sunday, Feb 22 to Monday, Feb 23.
Each municipality has its own link. For more information and updates, please click on their associated link.
Bensalem Township – Disaster Emergency declared immediately for the pending snow storm. Click here to see more details.
Bristol Borough – Snow information/requirements have been posted on their website. Click here to see the details.
Bristol Township – Snow Emergency effective 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 through 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Click here to see more details.
Falls Township – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and expires on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 a.m. Click here for details.
Langhorne Borough – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at noon until Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. No parking. Click here for details.
Lower Makefield Township – Snow information has been posted on Meta. Click here to see the details.
Middletown Township – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. . Click here to see details.
Morrisville Borough – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Click here to see the details.
Newtown Township – A Snow Emergency is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Click here to see the details.
Penndel Borough – Snow Emergency has been declared from 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, through 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026. Click here for more details and click here for more on the ordinance.
Tullytown Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 6 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Click here to see more details.
Warminster Township – Disaster Emergency has been declared for the incoming snow storm, effective Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 24,2026 at 12 p.m.. Click here to see the details and click here to see the declaration from Township Manager Tom Scott.
Yardley Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 4 p.m. . Click here to see the details. and click here to see declaration/other information from Mayor Caroline Thompson.
The primary concern is safety. Take care of yourselves and check on neighbors and those who may be vulnerable.
Please stay safe, take all necessary precautions, and keep your devices charged.
Click here for updates from the National Weather Service
Click here for PECO’s outage map.
Cops, Courts & Fire -Bristol Borough
Cops: Bristol Man Charged with Robbery; Suspect Identified Via Sports Jacket Seen on Video During Altercation
A Bristol Borough man was taken into custody and jailed Friday night accused of robbery, simple assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct stemming from a Jan. 26 incident at the Sunoco Gas Station on Bath Road and Rt 13.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Bristol Borough Police were dispatched to the gas station/convenience store at 10:45 p.m by 911 after the assault/robbery was called in by gas station staff.
Responding police officers met with the employee who said two men entered the store and one attempted to rob him, assaulted him, damaged the store and then fled on foot. The employee said one of the two suspects reached through the safety glass that is usually in place during night hours, punching him in the face and neck area several times and breaking his glasses, the criminal complaint alleges.
Officers noted, in the probable cause, visible bruising on the employee’s face from the robbery assault. In addition, there were a number of store items damaged.
The victim told police the direction the suspects fled which officers canvassed and came up empty in the suspect search.
On Jan 27 officers reviewed gas station security video footage (no audio) showing, according to the probable cause, Mark Rodriguez (who police had yet to identify) getting into an argument with the victim, reaching underneath the security window, pulling it up and pummeling the victim.
The unidentified man with Rodriguez remained nearby but was on his cell phone, police said, at the time of the assault and was wearing a Bristol High School sports jacket.
Bristol Borough Police identified the owner of the jacket (a minor) with help from school district officials. The minor provided a written statement to police identifying a family member of his/hers (Rodriguez) as the suspect who assaulted the Sunoco Gas Station employee and that he was present for the altercation.
The written statement was facilitated by Bristol Borough Middle/High School Lead Teacher Mike Poploskie, and sent via email to lead investigator/officer Chris Tehan. Subsequently police were able to confirm Rodriguez’s identity and that he lives on the 150 block of Otter Street.
About one week later, police met with the parents of the student who was present at the altercation in which the minor was interviewed by police.
The youngster provided police with a “voluntary” statement confirming his/her previous written statement and allowing police to have a warrant issued for Rodriguez’s arrest.
Rodriguez was arraigned by on-call District Judge Mark D. Douple last Friday on robbery and related counts. He set bail at 10 percent of $75,000.00 and remanded Rodriguez to Bucks County Jail until his next hearing date, currently set for Feb 25.
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