MENTOR, Ohio -- The driver accused of striking and killing a Mentor police officer during a hit-and-run last month appeared in court Monday.
WKYC streamed his appearance in court on our Facebook page:
Brian Anthony, 24, pleaded not guilty to charges of leaving the scene of a crash and tampering with evidence during his arraignment last week, during which bond was denied. His bond was set at $1 million and house arrest Monday.
Anthony was allegedly behind the wheel June 24 when he struck and killed Mentor police officer Mathew Mazany on state route 2 as Mazany assisted with a traffic stop. Anthony did not stop and the vehicle he was driving was later found at Mentor Lagoons Marina.
Funeral services for Mazany are scheduled to take place Monday morning. WKYC will also stream the services here around 10 a.m.
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.
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. Prosecutors also said that toxicology reports are pending.