UPDATED:  6/25/18  4:43 PM

A traffic stop was initiated by Mentor Police Officer Maryann Chaloupka at approximately 12:41 AM on Sunday, June 24th on SR-2 just east of SR-306 for an equipment violation.  During the course of the stop, it was determined that a passenger in the vehicle had a warrant for their arrest from another agency.

Officer Matthew Mazany arrived on scene as back-up. As he was standing outside of Officer Chaloupka’s vehicle, he was struck by a dark-colored, late-model Jeep Cherokee at approximately 1:03 AM. He was transported to Tri-Point Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Chaloupka was not injured.  The occupants of the detained vehicle were transported to Tri-Point with minor injuries and were treated and released.

Based on some partial plate information obtained from the in-car camera, the Police Department was able to use technology and social media to check for similar vehicles located in the Lake County area.  While checking with a possible vehicle owner in the City of Kirtland, Mentor Police also received a phone call from a citizen who noticed a Jeep with damage parked in the Mentor Lagoons Marina.  The citizen had also seen the release that was put out by the police department with a still photo of the vehicle.

Officers were able to determine that this vehicle was the same owned by the Kirtland resident.  The resident advised that their 24-year-old son was using the vehicle and had not come home last night.  The father was contacted by his son and his father encouraged him to turn himself in to the Police officers on scene at the marina.  The suspect was taken into custody at 9:02 am.

The suspect is Brian A. Anthony, age 24, of Kirtland Ohio.   Anthony was taken to Tri-Point Hospital to have blood and urine obtained to determine if alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident.  At this time he is being charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident, a third degree felony, and Tampering with Evidence, also a third degree felony. Both charges face maximum penalties of 9 to 60 months and up to $10,000 in fines.

Additional charges will be forthcoming depending on the results of chemical tests that were administered.

Anthony was arraigned this morning at 11:45 in Mentor Municipal Court.  Due to the circumstances of the case, Mentor Municipal Court John Trebets denied bond.  The case is set for a preliminary hearing.

It should be noted that when Anthony was placed under arrest, Officer Mazany’s handcuffs were used on him.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been determined. Information will be posted on the Mentor Police Department Facebook page as it becomes available. The Mentor Police Department asks that the media respect the family’s request for privacy at this time.

The Mentor Police Department extends their gratitude and thanks to all the Lake County Departments who assisted or offered their assistance, the Mentor Fire Department, and all the organizations that contacted them with offers of help and support.  The Mentor Police Department has been fortunate to have strong support from its residents and are grateful for their continued support at this time.