Bond set at $1 million for ex-Mentor police officer after body found

MENTOR, Ohio - Bond has been set for a former Mentor police officer after a body was found inside his home this weekend.

On Tuesday, 57-year-old Gary Stroud appeared in Mentor Municipal Court, entering no plea on three felony charges, including murder, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse. He pleaded not guilty failing to report a death, which is a misdemeanor.

The Mentor-on-the-Lake Police Department said they were called to Stroud’s home on Marine Parkway and discovered a body in the garage on Monday. While the deceased has not been identified by officials, the Cuyahoga County Medical’ Examiner’s Office said the body is an adult female.

Mentor-on-the-Lake Councilman Troy Elam said the body could be Gary Stroud’s wife, Diane, who served as the city’s council president. Elam said he was shocked to learn that Diane Stroud may be dead, saying “she always had the city’s best interest at heart.”

Gary Stroud was arrested soon after the body discovered. Lake County prosecutors asked for Stroud’s bond to be set at $1 million, which was granted. The initial hearing is set for Dec. 5.

According to Lake County Sheriff Dan Dunlap, Gary Stroud retired from the Mentor Police Department several years ago. He also worked as a special deputy for the sheriff’s office from 2006 until this September.