Portsmouth police responded to two separate calls involving people sleeping or lying outside churches within less than 24 hours.
The first call came in at approximately 5:30 p.m. after someone reported a person lying beside Domino’s Pizza.
When officers checked the area, they did not find anyone beside the restaurant or the neighboring building.
However, police found two people sleeping on the steps of Evangel Temple Assembly of God. Officers woke them and told them to move along.
At approximately 10 a.m. the following morning, a passerby reported seeing a woman curled into a fetal position beside the Apostolic Gospel Church on Jackson Avenue.
The caller described her as wearing a red sweater and jeans.
A second call came in a few minutes later reporting a woman lying near the intersection of Broadway and Jackson. The caller said she was in the street area but not blocking a traffic lane.
Officers located the woman and spoke with her. According to the police report, she appeared to be physically okay, though officers noted she seemed to be dealing with mental health issues.
Police did not make an arrest or request an ambulance. The woman was sent on her way.
The calls are another example of Portsmouth officers being asked to handle situations that fall somewhere between homelessness, mental illness, and public safety.
Churches, businesses, and police are frequently left responding when people have nowhere else to sleep or are experiencing a crisis in public. In both cases, officers checked on those involved and moved them away from the property, but the reports do not indicate that any longer-term help or shelter was arranged.
To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, use code USA250 to get your first month of the SCDN Newsletter for just $1—and get all your local news in one place instead of letting Facebook decide which stories you get to see.
