Portsmouth police handled two midday calls within blocks of each other, one ending with an arrest and the other with a man turning over needles and going with the Quick Response Team for rehab help.
The first call came in just after noon at 5th and Market streets.
Police were called after a person was seen lying face down on the ground.
Officers responded and took one man into custody.
Police arrested him on charges of disorderly conduct and drug paraphernalia and booked him into the Scioto County Jail.
Officers also impounded items from the scene.
About 20 minutes later, police were called to 7th and Broadway after a report of a man stumbling around in the street.
He was described as wearing red and black shorts and a black shirt.
Officers later located him in an alley between 6th and 7th streets.
According to the police log, the man turned over needles and a club for disposal.
Instead of going to jail, he went with the Quick Response Team for rehab assistance.
Police disposed of the syringes and club.
The two calls show the split-second difference in how these street-level drug and disorder calls can end.
One person went to jail.
Another handed over needles and a weapon, then agreed to go with a recovery team.
Same general area. Same afternoon. Very different outcome.
