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Youngstown schools dean pleads not guilty to domestic violence

GIRARD — A Youngstown City School District administrator was arraigned in Girard Municipal Court on Monday morning after being arrested on a domestic violence charge early Saturday.

Chivas Whipple, 41, of Liberty, who also was charged with criminal damaging / endangering, pleaded not guilty, and a temporary protection order was issued for the victim.

Judge Jeffrey D. Adler set Whipple’s next court appearance for March 14. Whipple was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond shortly after his arrest Saturday.

According to a Liberty police report, a Ring surveillance camera at the house of the victim’s boyfriend captured Whipple aggressively shoving and striking her.

According to YCSD spokeswoman Stacy Quinones, Whipple, who is the dean of students for city schools and the head boys basketball coach at East High School, was placed on paid administrative leave after the disturbance.

“As this is a pending investigation, the district cannot provide further details,” Quinones stated in an email.

Just before 1 a.m. Saturday morning, the video, which was obtained by this newspaper, shows footage of what appears to be Whipple approaching the victim saying, “Who the (expletive) you think you’re playing with?” The man then is seen aggressively grabbing and pushing the victim against a vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence in the 2900 block of Anderson Morris Road.

The report states officers spoke to the victim inside the residence and found her holding an ice pack to the back of her head.

According to the report, the dispute started because the victim was supposed to be staying at a relative’s house, but the relative allowed the victim to stay with her boyfriend until she could pick her up.

The victim told police when Whipple arrived at the residence, “He came out of his car and grabbed me and threw me around. … I knew he was gonna do that because that’s just how he is,” according to the report.

The victim is seen in the video trying to explain the situation to Whipple before he is seen grabbing and pushing her against the vehicle and then throwing her to the ground. The victim’s boyfriend was then seen in the video stepping out of the house as Whipple aggressively approached him and screamed at him.

Whipple then continued to act aggressively toward the victim.

According to the report, police said Whipple excitedly told them, “I whooped her (expletive) right here.”

Whipple was arrested after the victim’s mother was called and said she wished to press charges.

Whipple was booked into the Trumbull County jail Saturday after police reviewed the footage and found the altercation to be “excessive in nature.”

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