Portsmouth police handled a string of mental health and welfare calls in one day, including suicidal threats, a person reportedly taking pills, a frightened man afraid to go to the hospital, and an emergency commitment involving someone headed toward a family member’s home.
The calls show how often police officers are asked to respond when someone is in crisis, even when no crime has been committed.
Man Calmed Down, Taken to Hospital
The first call came in around 9:30 a.m. after police received a report that a man was on his way from Wayne Hills to a High Street home and planned to break out a window at his mother’s residence.
Officers located the man on Kendall Avenue.
According to the report, he was upset because he did not have his cigarettes. Once he had them, officers said he calmed down.
Police transported him to Southern Ohio Medical Center, where a deputy met him and served paperwork for a psychiatric mental health evaluation. SOMC security stood by while the situation was handled.
Officers Force Door During Welfare Call
Less than half an hour later, police were called back to the same general area for a report that a woman was injured in the shower.
When the woman did not answer, officers received permission to force entry.
Police kicked in the door and found the woman inside.
EMS transported her to the hospital. Officers impounded items, photographed the scene, and took information for a report.
The report did not provide additional details about her condition.
Suicide Hotline Text Leads Police to Tracy Park
Around 1 p.m., the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received a text from someone who said they had taken pills and planned to harm themselves.
GPS information indicated the message came from Tracy Park.
Officers went to the park and searched the area, including vehicles parked along 9th Street.
They were unable to locate the person who sent the message.
Man at Kroger Afraid People Were Following Him
At approximately 1:40 p.m., police were called to Kroger on Gay Street after Starbucks employees reported that a man kept asking them to call police because he believed people were following him.
When officers arrived, they found the man sitting at a table. According to the report, he appeared extremely nervous and was physically trembling.
Officers said the man believed people were following him and that people from the park were going to kill him.
Police determined he was dealing with mental health issues and was afraid to go to the hospital. After speaking with officers, he agreed to go to SOMC to talk with staff about his PTSD.
He told police he felt he would be safe there because the hospital has security officers.
Sober Living Call Ends With Citation, Offer of Help
Around 2 p.m., police responded after a sober living home reported that a former client was intoxicated and driving a white Nissan Rogue with front-end damage.
Officers later found the woman on Mound Street.
Police said she was polite and did not appear to be impaired.
She was cited for parking in the wrong direction and driving a vehicle with an expired tag.
Officers also offered to take her to a crisis center.
Suicidal Man Near Floodwall Goes Willingly for Help
Around 4 p.m., the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office reported that a man near the floodwall had a gun to his head.
Portsmouth police found the man near the railroad crossing, where he was speaking with a deputy.
Officers determined he did not have a gun, but the man was suicidal and said he wanted to go to the hospital.
Medics with the Portsmouth Fire Department transported him for treatment, and an emergency mental health hold was initiated.
The report said he went willingly to receive help.
Police on the Front Line
In several of these calls, officers did not make arrests. They searched parks, checked vehicles, forced entry during a welfare call, transported people to the hospital, coordinated with deputies, and worked with SOMC security and medics.
The calls are another reminder that local police are often the first people sent when someone is suicidal, frightened, confused, intoxicated, homeless, or in emotional distress.
For officers, these calls can change quickly. A welfare check can turn into a forced entry. A suicidal threat can send police searching a park. A person in crisis may need medical help, a hospital transport, or an emergency mental health evaluation instead of a jail cell.
Anyone thinking about harming themselves or someone else can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
