SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — A contractor working at a CVS store in Shaker Heights was found dead inside a trash compactor late Wednesday night, prompting an ongoing investigation by local authorities and the county medical examiner.
The man was identified as Andrew Strand, 34, of Brunswick, according to the Shaker Heights Police Department. Police were notified just before 10:00 p.m. Wednesday after Strand’s wife contacted authorities to report her husband missing. She told officers she became concerned when she was unable to reach him and later tracked his cellphone to the CVS located in the 17000 block of Chagrin Boulevard.
Officers responded to the store and conducted a search of the property. According to Shaker Heights Police Commander John Cole, Strand was eventually found inside a trash compactor located at the rear of the building. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released details about how Strand ended up inside the compactor or what led to his death. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office is now working to determine the official cause and manner of death. Police have said the circumstances remain under active investigation and that no conclusions have yet been reached.
Commander Cole expressed sympathy for Strand’s family and loved ones, calling the incident tragic. “We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time,” he said in a statement. Investigators are continuing to review evidence and gather information related to the incident.
CVS also released a statement confirming the company is cooperating fully with police. The store did not provide additional details, citing the ongoing investigation. It remains unclear what type of contract work Strand was performing at the time of his death or whether anyone else was present at the store when the incident occurred.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not indicated whether the death is being treated as accidental or otherwise. Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Shaker Heights Police Department as authorities work to determine what happened inside the CVS late Wednesday night.
