Sheriff would probe Struthers jail hanging if asked

STRUTHERS

Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said although his department has not been asked to investigate whether Struthers police complied with policy in the hours before a Sept. 10 hanging death in the city’s jail, he would be willing to conduct an administrative review if asked.

Struthers Capt. Patrick Bundy found Peter Bugno, 43, dead and hanging in a Struthers jail cell at about 8:40 am. Sept. 10. Bugno was booked into the jail on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct while intoxicated about four hours before he was found dead.

Records obtained by The Vindicator indicate Struthers police did not comply with procedures for placing inmates on suicide watch and failed to follow jail policy for routine checks of inmates not on suicide watch.

One of the records was a questionnaire that a screening officer is required to complete before booking an inmate. The form, initialed by Bugno and by an officer with the initials “MAL,” includes the question: “Do you have any intention of harming yourself or of committing suicide?”

“Yes” was checked in response to that question.

Bugno was not referred to a mental-health professional or placed under suicide watch, which violates procedure.

Read more about the case in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.