Trending
WARREN -- Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice is seeking written assurance from a behavioral health center before allowing a Warren Township man charged in a double fatal arson to be given medical care outside the treatment facility.
Carroll Bruton, 73, has been housed at Heartland Behavioral Health since January after being pink-slipped by a Trumbull County jail doctor.
Prosecuting attorney Charles Morrow said the medical staff at the facility requested lowering the medical level for Bruton to allow him to receive any medical treatment he would need that lands outside of the scope of care they're able to provide.
Rice told Morrow he wanted a written request guaranteeing Bruton would be handcuffed and chained at "all times" while being watched by two armed guards "24/7," the judge said. Anything short of that, the judge warned would be "absolutely denied."
The night of Jan 7, Bruton is accused of setting fire to a Miller Street SW residence. The blaze resulted in the death of Bruton's roommates, 82-year-old Roscoe Toles and 51-year-old Etianne Whitaker.
His attorney, Ross Smith, said he spoke with officials at the facility expressing similar concerns as the court. He said the care the hospital is seeking is not related to mental health but is because of the 73-year-old's "advanced age" to treat physical and internal ailments.
Rice said if his stipulations are met, he'd consider on an individual basis, "if they want to get some treatment. Tell me what it is. It's not going to be minor things that he wants to go to plan to get health care for.