Officer Saves Grant Bridge Jumper

A Portsmouth Police Officer saves a Grant Bridge jumper, officers search for a teen who shot at his mom, and a cop deploys a Taser after a drug scuffle in a church parking lot. We hit the highlights from the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing

Scary Scene

Just after 1 am, a caller reported a scary incident on 7^th Street.  He said he saw a female lying in the alley behind Valley View.  A man came out of a garage, picked the woman up, and carried her back inside.

He offered a description of the location. Officers used Google Maps to locate the address. There was a female in the garage. She was alert and said she was fine.

The man turned out to be her uncle. He gave police permission to search the area. Everyone was fine.

Who’s at My Window?

• A Madison Street caller said someone hit the window of their home at 1: 11 am. Officers passed through the area several times but didn’t see anything unusual.
• Seven minutes later, a Mabert Road caller reported a man carrying a golf club walking up and down the street and looking into car windows. Police could not locate him.

Officer Saves Bridge Jumper

At 3:37 am a caller reported his cousin threatened to jump off the Grant Bridge. He said she was currently in the Smith Drugs lot and running toward the bridge.

An officer located the woman near the railing of the bridge. The officer was able to calm the woman down and convince her to leave the bridge.

The intoxicated woman told the officer she “had a bad year and was thinking bad things.”

The Portsmouth Fire Department transported the woman to SOMC for evaluation.

Under The Influence

• At 7:42 am, a caller reported a man in dark clothing staggering in the middle of Gallia Street near AutoZone. The caller said the man was nearly hit twice. Police could not locate him.
• A Kent Street caller reported to women doing drugs in a parked vehicle on Kent Street.  Police said women did not appear to be impaired. They advised them of the complaint and told the women to move their vehicle.
• At 10:18 am, a Wayne Avenue caller reported people smoking pot inside a vehicle parked in a handicapped parking spot. Police issued citations for possession of drug paraphernalia and parking in a handicapped spot. Officers impounded the vehicle and arranged for a tow.
• Police responded to a report of an apparently high man bothering Kroger customers at 1:40 pm. Officers were unable to locate the suspect.
• Just before 2:30 pm, a Gallia Street caller reported a grocery cart pushed up against the bushes near the Taco Bell. The caller said there were pill bottles containing medication in the cart. Officers impounded the medication.
• At the same time, a man fell to the ground in the middle of traffic at 12^th and Gay. First responders administered Narcan and he came around. The man refused further medical assistance.
• Police responded to a report of a man with a crack pipe at the 8^th Street homeless shelter. The man requested help with mental health issues. Officers took him to SOMC.
• At 7:27 pm, a Glen Avenue caller reported 2 women in the park shooting dope while kids were playing in the park.

Parking Crackdown

• Officers arranged a tow for a vehicle parked in a handicapped parking spot on Kendall Avenue at 9:29 am.
• At 6:35 pm, police cited and towed a vehicle parked within 10 feet of a fire hydrant on Thomas Avenue.

Beating Kids With A Belt?

Just after noon, a caller reported an incident involving kids in the Kroger parking lot. The witness said a man in a white SUV was beating kids with a belt.

When police arrived, the man said he had only threatened to beat the kids with a belt. Officers observed no marks on the kids and said they seemed okay.

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Taser Deployed After Drug Scuffle in Church Parking Lot

Officers responded to a report of two men and two women fighting over drugs in a church parking lot at 6^th and Brown just after 1 pm.

Four units responded to the scene. An officer engaged in a foot pursuit of one of the suspects who ran down an alley and then headed in the direction of the Fishbowl bar.

The officer deployed their taser. But it appears the suspect got away. Police took information for a report.

Grand Theft Auto

An Auburn Avenue caller reported a stolen vehicle at 4:30 pm. The Sheriff’s office found it wrecked on its side at the corner of Poplar Fork and Cooney Road.  No one was inside.

At 5:35 am, a caller reported a man attempting to break into a vehicle in the parking lot of the Royal Inn. Police discovered New Boston Police had a warrant for the man. Police arrested the guy and took him to the jail where NBPD served the warrant.

Choke Hold In Rehab

Police responded to an assault report at a local rehab facility at 6:43 pm. Two patients got into a scuffle and one claimed the other had her in a chokehold and punched her in the face.

There were no witnesses to the fight.

Getting Straight

Just after 6 pm, a caller reported a man pacing back and forth in front of Patsy’s Inn and starting at a truck. Police could not locate the man.

An hour later, a caller reported the same man was acting oddly in York Park. When police arrived he was sitting on a concrete block facing the stage.

Police said he was nervous and sweating. When officers told them people had complained he apologized and said he was “straightening himself.”

Officers suggested he find a private place to straighten himself as opposed to a city park.

Teen Shoots At Mom

The Sheriff’s Office asked for PPD’s help to contact a 17-year-old boy who shot at his mother and her boyfriend earlier in the day.

Yelling and Screaming

• Officers responded to a report of a woman inside the Subway on Gallia acting up. The caller said she made threats and got in customers’ faces. When asked to leave, she went outside and screamed.  Police could not locate her.
• At 10:25 pm, answered a call about a man standing outside a Gallia Street home screaming, yelling, and talking to himself.
• Seven minutes later a caller reported a man near Portsmouth High School carrying blinds while yelling and screaming at himself.