Youngstown man faces several charges after foot chase in Austintown

Staff report

AUSINTOWN

What started as a random traffic stop turned into a foot chase and ended with a suspect subdued by a stun gun.

Wardell Prather, 37, of Wilkinson Avenue, Youngstown, was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital after reportedly breaking free from an officer’s grip and fleeing, police said.

According to a police report, Prather was a passenger with Timothy Liddell, who was stopped on Mahoning Avenue for driving with a suspended license. The report says police asked for Prather’s license to see if he could drive Liddell’s vehicle.

Police then discovered Prather was wanted on a warrant on drug charges in Lawrence County, Pa.

Police followed Prather on foot after he fled the car. The report says police initially stopped Prather with a stun gun in a driveway on Kleber Avenue.

Police said he fell face first onto the concrete, and continued to resist police, requiring two more discharges from a stun gun. The pursuing officer used the stun gun because Prather was continually “grabbing the left side of his waistband ... even though he was wearing a belt.”

The report says Prather told police, “I was totally in the wrong, I panicked and ran and deserved everything I got.”

Police said Prather had in his possession three cellphones, $1,370 in cash, a car-rental agreement, a Chase credit card and two Cracker Barrel gift cards, the report said.

His additional charges are resisting arrest and obstructing official business.