Choffin instructor facing charges in Boardman police chase: Report

BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) – A man who worked as an instructor at Choffin Career and Technical Center is facing charges after an investigation of a reported domestic incident, which led to a police chase and crash, according to a police report.

A woman reported that Patrick Prokop, 46, had been stalking her, had multiple firearms, and made the statement, “Please send the cops. I’m waiting for them. Let’s do this,” making her believe that he intended to commit “suicide by cop,” the report stated.

The woman contacted police just before 11 p.m. Friday, reporting that she confronted Prokop after finding an Apple Air Tag he had placed in her vehicle without her knowledge. She said this led to an argument, and she went to a relative’s home but said Prokop showed up there and was intoxicated.

Police said while they were taking their report, Prokop arrived in a vehicle but sped off when officers began to approach him. This led to a short chase that ended in a crash in the 500 block of Squirrel Hill Drive, where reports said Prokop’s vehicle hit a mailbox in the front yard of a home. The report stated that the vehicle also hit a transformer, knocking out power to hundreds of homes in the area.

Police said Prokop appeared to be intoxicated, and he had multiple boxes of ammunition in the vehicle, as well as knives, hatchets, throwing stars and firearm accessories. Police did not find any guns, the report stated. Police also reported finding two empty beer cans in the vehicle.

Police arrested Prokop on charges of failure to control, OVI and fleeing and eluding. He appeared in court Tuesday morning, where bond was set. He’s scheduled to appear in court again next Tuesday.

A representative for Choffin said Prokop has since been placed on paid administrative leave but declined to comment further due to the pending investigation.

Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report.

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