Catalytic Converter Crime Spree

Portsmouth, Ohio Police responded to a catalytic converter crime spree and offered rides to people in need. Plus they investigated a case of a visitor smuggling drugs into SOMC. We break down the highlights from the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing

Under The Influence

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• A worried dad asked officers to check in on his daughter who he feared was on drugs at 12:06 am. Police watched the woman walk to her apartment and thought she seemed all right. When an officer knocked on the door she refused to answer. Neighbors told police the woman is a heavy drug user.
• About 30 minutes later, officers answered a call to the same apartment for a report of an unresponsive woman. However, she was awake when police arrived and refused treatment.
• Police answered a call to SOMC at 8:13 pm to investigate a case where a visitor brought drugs to a patient and an overdose occurred.
• A Gay Street caller reported an apparently high man on the sidewalk at 9 pm. It turned out to be a person police frequently have contact with. They suggested he go home.

Catching a Ride

• Just after 3 am, police responded to a report of a man walking in the road on US 52 near the Sciotoville Overpass. An officer gave the man a ride to a Rhodes Avenue address.
• A Washington Street caller reported a man walking in traffic with a child in his arms at 12:27 pm. An officer offered the man a ride home.

Suspicious Activity

A Robinson Avenue caller reported a man had broken into the fenced area of Goodwill at 7:20 am.  The suspect was hanging around the dumpster. Officers detained the man but the store did not want to file charges.

Just after 4 pm, a Gallia Street caller reported a man with a sign running in the street. The witness said he was loud and aggressive with people. Police could not locate him.

Catch and Release

• Officers answered a report of a suspicious vehicle at 17^th and Mound at 7:28 pm. The vehicle was running with lights on and appeared to be wrecked. A man was sleeping inside. Police discovered the guy had warrants but the jail refused to take him due to COVID-19.
• At 10:35 am, police answered a call to 17^th Street about a brick tossed through the window of a parked vehicle. They arrested a suspect and then released him on his own recognizance with a court date. An officer drove the suspect back where they found him.

Hey! That’s My Stuff

• Just before 8 am, shoplifters made off with a bunch of candy from Speedway. Witnesses said they left in a black pickup and headed west on Route 52.
• About an hour later, Frontier reported a catalytic converter stolen from a parked company vehicle.
• Seven minutes later, Wright Auto Sales said several vehicles had missing catalytic converters. Police took information for a report.
• Catalytic converter thieves also hit the auxiliary homeless shelter at the 17^th Street Armory. At 10:12 am, Community Action reported catalytic converters missing off several rental trucks.
• Police received a call from the CAO Clinic on 2^nd Street at 11:09 am. A thief attempted to steal a vehicle and damaged the steering column.
• A resident of the Shawnee Apartment reported medications stolen from in front of her door at 11:25 am.

Too Dangerous To Go In

At 1:15 pm, a caller reported suspicious activity in the yard of a burned house on 11^th Street. The witness reported people taking things from the house.

Police said it was too dangerous to check inside the house, but they did find a guy collecting items from the dumpster. They advised him to leave.

Identity Theft

A South Taylor Court caller reported another case of unemployment identity theft at 4:23 pm. He received a notice that the state denied the false claim.

Domestic Violence

A woman called 911 at 8:24 pm to report her husband had beat her. The dispatcher could hear the pair struggling. Officers responded to Kiff Street and took the man into custody.