The curtain closed on a familiar act just before midnight at Tracy Park, as officers arrested a man found asleep on the park’s stage, surrounded by trash and open cans of beer.
That man was Teddy Sandlin, a homeless individual well-known to local law enforcement, who had already been barred from the park following previous citations for littering.
This latest incident unfolded like a tragic encore:
- 💤 Sandlin was caught sleeping on the stage
- 🍺 Officers spotted an open beer and several empties nearby
- 🗑️ A large bag of trash was strewn across the public space
- 🚓 One officer even had to personally clean up the mess
Given his prior ban, police charged Sandlin with criminal trespass and booked him into the Scioto County Jail.
🔁 A Repeat Offender in a Broken System
Just weeks ago, on July 8, Sandlin pleaded no contest to littering in the very same park. He was given a $50 fine — but no shelter, no support, and no place else to go.
Now, he’s back in jail and due in court again on July 24 for a pretrial hearing.
🌃 Tracy Park: Ground Zero for a Growing Crisis
This arrest is just the latest in a long string of incidents at Tracy Park, which has become a flashpoint in Portsmouth’s growing homelessness and mental health crisis. From public disturbances and trash pileups to open drug use and threats involving weapons, the park has turned into an unofficial homeless encampment, despite repeated cleanups and enforcement efforts.
❗ No Real Solutions
Local officials have acknowledged the escalating problems but offer few long-term fixes. Without access to mental health care, housing, or addiction treatment, individuals like Sandlin are stuck in a revolving door of arrests and citations — and taxpayers foot the bill.
🤔 What Can Be Done?
Until Portsmouth invests in permanent shelter options, public sanitation, and mental health outreach, expect more scenes like this one:
A man with nowhere to go,
Beer cans on the stage,
Trash bags in the park,
and yet another arrest that solves nothing.
