The man who admitted killing a Newark police sergeant while trying to escape authorities in March 2007 was sentenced to 30 years behind bars without parole Wednesday.

William Rodriguez pled guilty to murder and escape. According to authorities, Rodriguez was handcuffed and alone in the back of a police cruiser when he managed to drive off in it, but crashed into another police car, killing 33-year-old officer Tommaso Popolizio.

Rodriguez expressed no remorse Wednesday when he gave a statement witnesses have described as ?rambling.? Rodriguez was arrested 16 times by the age of 22 and was out on bail at the time of the fatal crash. He admitted being high on PCP when he drove the stolen police car into Popolizio, though his attorney claims Rodriguez didn?t intend to kill the officer.

Popolizio is survived by his wife and two daughters.

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