Man suspected in crash that killed officer pleads not guilty

Associated Press

MENTOR, OHIO

A man accused of driving a vehicle that struck and killed a police officer and failing to stop has pleaded not guilty in Ohio to charges of leaving the scene of a crash and tampering with evidence.

Brian Anthony, 24, pleaded not guilty Monday in Mentor Municipal Court.

Police say the Kirtland man was driving the car that struck Mentor officer Mathew Mazany early Sunday while Mazany was assisting with a traffic stop.

The 41-year-old officer was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Anthony was taken into custody Sunday.

Mentor police say Anthony told them he didn’t stop because he didn’t realize he had hit anything.