Father Accused Of Planting Drugs For Son In Custody

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A father has been accused of planting drugs in a bathroom for his son to find.

Authorities say Samuel Bruno showed up at the Magistrate's Office Monday morning and asked if his son Eric Bruno had a hearing there, and then used the bathroom.

A short time later Eric Bruno was taken from the Allegheny County Jail, arrived for his hearing, and also asked to use the same bathroom.

Authorities say when Eric Bruno used the restroom they heard unusual noises coming from inside. When a constable opened the bathroom door, the young man was reportedly trying to eat what appeared to be a piece of aluminum foil. The constable reported Bruno then tried to flush the foil down the toilet.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that the restroom had been searched at the start of the day and that Samuel Bruno was the only person to have used the restroom.

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Immediately after he left the bathroom, a staff member removed the toilet paper roll, where officials found a small amount of marijuana and two pink pills identified as Clonazepam.

Police say a brief confrontation ensued with the younger Bruno before both family members were taken into custody.

When on his way to jail, the elder Bruno said he had nothing to with the drugs.

"They blamed me for putting stuff in the bathroom for my boy, but I didn't do it. They're assuming I did it, that's all," said Samuel Bruno.

The elder Bruno was taken to the Allegheny County Jail, held on a bail of $3,000. His son was returned to the same jail, and will face new charges based on the incident.