2 jailers fired after assault arrest

Among 5 officers charged in melee outside Buffet Bar
2012-09-21T00:00:00Z 2 jailers fired after assault arrestJamar Younger Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star
September 21, 2012 12:00 am  • 

Two of the Pima County jail corrections officers accused of beating up four people outside of a bar have been fired.

Angel Castaneda, 23, and Steven Haglund, 26, were fired Thursday after they were arrested in the attack on three men and a 17-year-old boy early Wednesday morning outside the Buffet Bar, 538 E. Ninth St., said Deputy Renee Carlson, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman.

One of the men was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, Tucson police said.

Castaneda, Haglund and three other officers were arrested in the fight, which police said was unprovoked.

The other three officers arrested are John Hyatt, 30, Matthew Garcia, 24, and Anthony Bonfiglio, 25.

They are all facing multiple charges of aggravated assault involving restraint or incapacitation of a victim, and aggravated assault resulting in temporary but substantial injury, police said.

At least 12 corrections officers were at the bar, near North Fourth Avenue, before the attack.

The five who were arrested had just finished their shift at the Pima County jail, Carlson said.

Marilyn Smith, a co-owner of the Buffet Bar, said she wasn't at the bar the night of the attack but has heard a lot of rumors.

"There are all kinds of stories going around," Smith said.

Smith said she couldn't comment further because of advice given by the bar's lawyers.

The attack began in front of the bar about 2 a.m., where two bar patrons were beaten up, police said.

The fight ended up across the street near the mailbox of the home where Corey Masterson, 17, lives with his father. Masterson said Bonfiglio punched him in the face after the teen came outside to help his father, who was trying to break up the fight.

The teen suffered a black eye while his father was knocked unconscious and required six stitches to his lip.

"He didn't appear to be drunk," Masterson said, referring to Bonfiglio. "I got hit two times."

Castaneda and Haglund were hired within the last year and were still on their probation period when they were fired.

Castaneda was hired Sept. 23, 2011 and Haglund was hired Feb. 10.

The probation period for corrections officers is one year, according to the sheriff's website.

Hyatt, Garcia, Bonfiglio and seven other officers were placed on administrative leave. None of those seven was arrested.

TPD is still investigating.

Bonfiglio received a letter of reprimand April 27 for failure to secure personal weapons and county equipment, being unfit for duty and abuse of sick leave, Carlson said.

Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or 573-4115.

Copyright 2013 Arizona Daily Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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