News of retired Mentor police officer charged with murder sends shockwave through department

MENTOR-ON-THE-LAKE, Ohio - News of a retired Mentor police officer being arrested on murder charges after a body was found in his home has shocked the people with whom he used to work.

Gary Stroud, 57, appeared in court Tuesday morning for an arraignment. He faces four charges, including murder, after a body was found in the garage of his house on Marine Parkway in Mentor-on-the-Lake Sunday evening. Police removed more possible evidence Tuesday afternoon in connection with the case, including a garbage can that was loaded onto the back of a truck.

Police received a 911 call Sunday evening. When police arrived, they found a decomposing body in the garage. The coroner has not officially identified the body. Although an official missing persons report was never filed, police and neighbors said that Stroud's wife Diane has not been seen in weeks.

Michelle Baker has known the family for years.

"They were always nice to everyone in the neighborhood," said Baker.

Gary Stroud spent more than 25 years as a Mentor police officer.

"It has sent a shockwave through the department," said Mentor Police Chief Dan Llewellyn, who worked with Stroud his entire career.

Llewellyn said Stroud has awards in his personnel file but he was also reprimanded several times for what the chief called quality control issues, not serious issues.

"I'm very distressed and very saddened by the preliminary information I'm hearing from Mentor-on-the-Lake," said Llewellyn.

Gary Stroud will be in court on Dec. 5 for a preliminary hearing. He is in jail on $1 million bond.

County records show the Strouds' home was in foreclosure.