MENTOR, Ohio -- The driver accused of killing a Mentor police officer during a hit-and-run crash was arraigned in court Monday morning.
Twenty-four-year-old Brian Anthony, of Kirtland, pleaded not guilty and bond was denied.
The deadly incident happened around 1 a.m. Sunday on state Route 2 eastbound, near state Route 306.
The officer, identified as 41-year-old Mathew Mazany, was assisting with a traffic stop when another driver, identified as Anthony, struck him and fled the scene. Mazany was taken to TriPoint Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Another officer on scene was uninjured.
Police were looking for a late-model, dark-colored Jeep Wrangler, with damage to its front side and possibly the right side. The vehicle was later located at Mentor Lagoons Marina, where it was rammed into a gate.
Mentor Police Chief Kevin Knight said a citizen called police with a tip after seeing the Jeep parked at the marina. When police contacted the Jeep's owner, he said his son borrowed the car and had not returned home. Anthony's father urged him to turn himself in.
When Anthony was taken into custody around 9 a.m. Sunday, officers used Mazany's handcuffs during the arrest.
Anthony is currently charged with leaving the scene of a crash and tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies. Additional charges are pending the result of toxicology tests.
According to Knight, Anthony said he didn't stop after the crash because he wasn't sure he hit anything. Prosecutors said Anthony failed to report the crash and went to a friend's house after it happened.
Listen to police audio from the hit-and-run: Warning -- some may find the content disturbing:
Anthony's attorney said most of Anthony's family is in law enforcement and fire.
Mazany grew up in Maple Heights and his father was a police officer for 34 years, according to the city of Mentor. He was a 14-year veteran of the Mentor force and leaves behind a son and wife of 12 years. He is the second officer since 1927 to die in the line of duty.
"It was his life ambition since childhood to become a police officer," Mentor City Manager Kenneth Filipiack said.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
