Inspiring Minds names interim director in wake of Frost’s arrest

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The executive director of Inspiring Minds Youngstown faces numerous criminal charges, and the organization has appointed an interim director to guide the results-based youth organization.

Deryck Toles, Inspiring Minds founder and chief executive officer, announced Tuesday that Lindsay Benton, a founding board member of Inspiring Minds Youngstown and founder of Lindsay Renea Dance Theatre, has been named interim executive director.

Timothy Frost, the executive director, has been placed on indefinite leave without pay after Inspiring Minds officials were notified police arrested Frost on Sunday evening.

He faces several charges, including aggravated trafficking in drugs, failure to comply with a lawful order of police, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing official business.

He has a hearing Tuesday in Youngstown Municipal Court.

According to a YPD report, officers responding to reports of gunfire pursued Frost’s Cadillac Escalade early Sunday from East Evergreen Avenue to Market Street to East Indianola Avenue, where the car finally stopped.

The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, reported that, according to police, once Frost was out of his vehicle, he disobeyed orders to keep his hands in plain sight.

When Frost pulled something out of his pocket, an officer shot him with a stun gun. Frost fell to the ground and was handcuffed. The object later was found to be Frost’s wallet.

Police found $310, a grinder, a digital scale and 16 small bags of suspected marijuana, the TV station reported.

“I’m shocked and saddened by this, but the important thing is that we’re showing our children that we have a zero tolerance for drugs,” Toles said in a news release.

“Our program is too important and is making a huge difference in the lives of the children we are serving. We will not become sidetracked, and we will continue serving the children who need us. We have a strict no-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs,” Toles added.

All Inspiring Minds employees are subject to the organization’s drug and background-check policy. Frost has no prior criminal history.

Inspiring Minds Youngstown was launched in 2015 as an affiliate of Warren Inspiring Minds, which has been operating since 2006.

Benton is a Youngstown native and Ursuline High School graduate. She has a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and is working on her master’s degree in fine arts at Jacksonville University.

Toles said Benton “brings with her a true understanding of the students we are serving and the mission that we have.”

Benton is a longtime community collaborator. The Lindsay Renea Dance Theatre is located at Rising Star Baptist Church, 2943 Wardle Ave., on the city’s East Side. Benton also is an adjunct faculty member at Youngstown State University.

She was a recipient of the 25 under 35 Award for 2016 by the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals and has gained national acclaim for her work as a dancer.