A late-night crash involving multiple parked vehicles on Charles Street ended with a Portsmouth man in jail, an interpreter being called to the scene, and federal immigration authorities placing a detainer on the suspect.
Portsmouth police were dispatched just after 2 a.m. after callers reported that a blue van had struck multiple vehicles in the area.
🚔 POLICE DETAIN DRIVER
When officers arrived, they located the suspected driver and took him into custody.
According to the report, officers encountered a significant language barrier while trying to investigate the incident and ultimately had to call in an interpreter to assist with communication.
🍺 OVI CHARGES FILED
Police arrested Amilcar Hernandez and charged him with:
- Having Physical Control of a Vehicle While Under the Influence
- Contempt of Court
- Driving Without a License
He was transported to the Scioto County Jail for booking.
👀 ICE PLACES DETAINER
According to the report, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also placed a detainer on Hernandez.
Portsmouth police provided a copy of the detainer paperwork to jail staff.
An ICE detainer is a request asking a jail to notify federal immigration authorities before an inmate is released and, in some cases, to hold the individual for a limited period so federal agents can assume custody.
⚖️ RELEASED BY COURT
Despite the charges, Hernandez later appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court and was released on his own recognizance.
Court records show he is scheduled to return to court on July 22.
❓ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
One unanswered question remains.
While Hernandez is no longer listed in the Scioto County Jail, it is unclear whether he was released following his court appearance or transferred into federal custody pursuant to the ICE detainer.
Neither Portsmouth Municipal Court records nor local jail records immediately clarified his status.
🚗 MULTIPLE VEHICLES DAMAGED
Police have not released details on how many vehicles were struck or the extent of the damage.
The incident remains under investigation.
For neighbors on Charles Street, the night ended with damaged vehicles.
For Hernandez, it ended with criminal charges, a court date, and questions about whether federal immigration authorities are now involved.
