MENTOR, Ohio -- The Mentor police officer who was killed in a hit-and-run crash Sunday had pulled over the suspect driver during a traffic stop six years prior.
According to Mentor Municipal Court records, Ptl. Mathew Mazany pulled over Brian Anthony on June 19, 2012.
On Sunday, Anthony, 24, allegedly struck and killed Mazany on state Route 2 eastbound near state Route 306. Mazany was assisting with a traffic stop when Anthony allegedly struck him and failed to stop.
Mazany, 41, died at a local hospital.
Police spent hours searching for the Jeep Wrangler Anthony was driving. It was located at Mentor Lagoons Marina and Anthony, a Kirtland resident, 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.
