Trial date set in fatal hit-and-run of officer

A September trial date was set Friday for a Kirtland man charged in a June hit-and-run on Ohio 2 that left a Mentor police officer dead.

Cleveland.com reports Brian Anthony, 24, was indicted last week on aggravated vehicular homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them, failing to stop after an accident and other traffic violations, court records show.

Lake County Common Pleas Judge John O’Donnell set the Sept. 17 trial date during a Friday morning pre-trial hearing. Anthony, who sat quietly, attended the hearing in a blue jail jumpsuit and was shackled.

Prosecutors said Anthony tested positive for drugs including heroin, fentanyl, morphine and codeine during a July bond hearing. He was also under the influence of alcohol, Lake County Prosecutor Charles Coulson said Monday.

Investigators said Mathew Mazany, 41, was helping another officer on a traffic stop for an equipment violation June 24 about 1 a.m. on Ohio 2 near Ohio 306. The late-model Jeep Wrangler struck Mazany as he walked to the stopped car. He was treated by officers and firefighters at the scene before being taken to the TriPoint Medical Center, where he died.

Anthony’s parents told officers he was using the Jeep and had not come home that night. Anthony’s father persuaded him to surrender to police who were at the marina about 9 a.m. Authorities said Anthony told them that he was not aware that he hit someone along the highway.