Pair facing drug charges following Hubbard crash

Police officer recovering from non-life threatening injuries

HUBBARD TOWNSHIP -- Two men involved in the chase and subsequent crash Monday night involving a Hubbard city police cruiser were in Trumbull County Eastern District Court on Tuesday.

Charles Pickard, 21, of Bassett Lane, Youngstown, identified as the driver of the pickup truck being chased, faces charges of failure to comply with signal of a police officer, trafficking in drugs, possession of marijuana, driving under suspension, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and operating a vehicle with unlawful tinted glass. Pickard is being held without bond.

A passenger in Pickard's vehicle, Antwan Tarver, 21, of Tod Avenue NW, Warren, was arraigned on a felony complicity charge, possession of marijuana and resisting arresting. Judge Marty Nosich set Tarver's bond at $150,000 and set a preliminary hearing for Thursday morning.

Brookfield police Chief Dan Faustino said the charges against the two are related to offenses surrounding the traffic stop in Brookfield. Both Pickard and Tarver, who were booked into the Trumbull County jail after 1 a.m., remained incarcerated as of Tuesday afternoon, records show.

Faustino said more charges are pending in connection to a collision at Truck World. A Hubbard city police officer, Eric Mallory, was hurt in the crash, according to reports.

Mallory, who is recovering from non-life threatening injuries, has been with the department for about two years after being a Youngstown police officer for three years.

Brookfield police responded 8:15 p.m. Monday to Bedford Road near U.S. Route 62 after police pulled over a pickup truck for a traffic stop, and the driver took off heading into Hubbard Township.

A 911 report indicates the driver fled police heading southbound on state Route 7 turning in the area of the Flying J truck plaza before turning around and hitting a police cruiser. Reports indicates the driver and passengers got out of the vehicle in the area of Truck World and Shell after the driver hit the cruiser. One man was stopped by authorities at gunpoint near the Dunkin' Donuts, reports state.

A Hubbard City cruiser was reported totaled. Occupants of the other vehicle were taken to St. Joseph Warren Hospital, along with the officer, a Trumbull County 911 report states.

Hubbard Township, Brookfield police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are investigating the incident.