Boardman police charge alleged driver in crash that killed passenger

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Township police charged the suspected driver of a vehicle that crashed, killing a passenger, after a police chase.

Nicole Mitchell, 32, of Boardman is charged with complicity to commit theft and failing to comply with a police signal, police said. Further charges from Youngstown police, who are investigating the accident, are likely.

The Mahoning County Coroner’s office identified the deceased as Taylor Duvall, 23, of Pasadena Avenue.

She reportedly was not wearing her seat belt. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

According to a police report, Mitchell led township police on a brief chase after an officer attempted to pull her over in connection with a shoplifting incident reported at the Walgreens at Market Street and U.S. Route 224 about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A store employee reported to police a woman filled a cart with items, including diapers and deodorant, then loaded them into a red Honda and fled the scene.

Shortly thereafter, a township police officer reportedly spotted the vehicle near South Avenue and Southern Boulevard. A chase ensued, with police reportedly terminating it shortly after it began.

Police then found the vehicle in Youngstown at Zedaker and Compton avenues on the South Side, “wrecked and with the female passenger deceased,” according to the report.

Police report Mitchell was found hiding underneath a sandbox at a nearby home. She was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Youngstown police are handling the investigation of the crash.

Mahoning County court records indicate Duvall was convicted last year of petty theft and complicity charges in Austintown and Boardman, respectively.

Court records show Mitchell is facing charges in Boardman of endangering children, permitting drug abuse and possessing drug-abuse instruments. Those charges were filed in October.