Mon Feb 08 2010
by Tim Troglen
Reporter
Stow -- A Garfield Heights man who police say was driving the truck which struck and killed a Boston Heights police officer in January has been charged by the Ohio State Highway Patrol with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree misdemeanor.
John Gavelek, 51, pleaded not guilty in Stow Municipal Court Feb. 25 to aggravated vehicular homicide and improper approach to a safety vehicle, a minor misdemeanor.
"He never saw him until the instant of the accident," said Michael H. Peterson, Gavelek's attorney. "It was a horrible, horrible accident and everybody feels remorse for the police officer."
Officer Jarod Dean, 24, of Hudson, was picking up debris on Route 8 when he was struck and killed by a truck traveling southbound around 5:30 a.m. Jan. 19, according to Boston Heights Police Chief Joseph Varga.
"He had his lights on and was behind the cruiser," Varga said of Dean.
Gavelek told investigating officers that he did not see Dean until he was struck, according to Varga.
Officer Dean was a part-time police officer with Boston Heights for six months and previously worked in Windham for two years, Varga said.
A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled March 20 at 1 p.m. in front of Judge Kim R. Hoover.
E-mail: ttroglen@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3146
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