2 deputies punished after jail inmate's suicide
YOUNGSTOWN — Two Mahoning County sheriff’s deputies will be issued adverse behavior reports for leaving their posts for breaks without being properly relieved in the apparent Aug. 25 suicide of a jail inmate.
Deputy Nicholas Argeras admitted going on break without first checking whether Deputy Tyler Peters would be on break at the same time, according to an internal affairs report from Cmdr. John Antonucci, which was released this morning.
Peters also admitted leaving his post for a break without being properly relieved.
Peters also admitted he failed to visually check inmates in his pod and submitted to booking a mid-day head count, which was not obtained from an actual physical head count.
Inmate Kevin P. Burkey, 50, of Lowellville, died by hanging in his cell after having been jailed on a charge of theft of dangerous drugs from St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.