Youngstown man charged by Boardman police for weekend chase

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A Youngstown man is scheduled to appear in Mahoning County Area Court today for arraignment on multiple charges related to a weekend police chase.

Kevin Anderson, 32, of Roslyn Drive, faces felony charges of drug abuse, obstructing official business, tampering with evidence and failure to comply with the order of a police officer. He also is charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle while impaired, speed and reckless operation.

The charges stem from an incident that early Sunday after a township officer working with the Mahoning County OVI Task Force went in search of a reported reckless driver on Shields Road, according to a police report.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Anderson, purportedly led police from multiple agencies on a chase after an officer tried to stop him for driving 61 mph in a 35-mph zone on Shields.

The chase went down Shields, Southern Boulevard, past Western Reserve Road, ending at West Harvard Boulevard. Anderson reportedly continued driving even after blowing out a front tire and driving over stop sticks, according to the report.

After the pursuit ended, Anderson reportedly lit and smoked a crack pipe in front of officers. The pipe, which Anderson reportedly threw from the vehicle, was collected as evidence.

Anderson remained in the Mahoning County jail Monday.