The Coronavirus has changed life a lot for Portsmouth Police. They’ve got a special medical quiz to give folks who aren’t feeling well, they’re constantly having to remind people about the stay-at-home order.
With the Scioto County Jail only accepting folks who’ve committed serious crimes, they’re catching and releasing a lot of people who would ordinarily be behind bars.
In one case, an officer was unable to complete filing a report for stolen car because the victim was displaying some troubling symptoms. That doesn’t mean they aren’t busy. PPD Officers responded to over 100 calls between Tuesday and the early morning hours of Thursday.
Let’s look at what’s happening out on the street.
New Questions to Ask
Whenever anyone calls in with a medical complaint they will now be asked the following questions by officers:
- Are you experiencing fever, cough or difficulty breathing?
- How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
- Have you or anyone in the residence (or place of business) been tested for COVID-19? If yes, what were the results from the test?
- Have you traveled outside Scioto County in the last 14 days, If yes, where?
- Have you been in close contact with someone who has traveled internationally or to locations in the United States where the Coronavirus is prevalent?
Stay at Home Means You
- Around 1:30 am on Tuesday, Officers found two vehicles in York Park after hours. They reminded them of Ohio’s stay-at-home rule and sent them on their way.
- At 7 pm on Tuesday a woman called to complain to officers about kids playing in Mound Park. The officer says the woman talked over him and demanded to know why it keeps happening. The officer explained that all they can do is run them off. She wasn’t happy with that response.
- Officers drove by the park and saw a few people but no gathering that required breaking up.
- Around 3 am on Wednesday, police responded to 13th Street where a group of juveniles were playing in the street.
Strange Visitors
Just before 5 am, an 18th Street man reported he heard someone walk down his stairs and then run back up. He tied a cord around the door of the room he thought they went into. Turns out no one was there.
He showed officers pictures from the cameras inside his house of people who had gotten into his house previously. He’s not sure how they got in though he does live with his ex-girlfriend and she has a key.
He called back just before 9 am to say that his 15-year-old son was alone sleeping in the house and that he could see someone on his security cameras going through his things. He described the person as wearing a white mask and being dressed all I black.
When police arrived, he showed them pictures of what turned out to be his teenage son in the house. A woman who lives in the house told officers she thinks he just trying to scare her into staying with him and using police as a weapon.
Grand Theft Auto
Fear of sickness kept officers from following up on a report of stolen vehicle at the Woodbine Apartments. A woman called at 1:19 pm to report a stolen 1997 gold Chevy Cavalier. She believed her former boyfriend took it. She said he made off with the car about a week ago.
She told officers over the phone that she didn’t report it stolen sooner because she’s very sick and having trouble remembering things. Police decided not to go out and have her sign a vehicle theft report.
On Wednesday afternoon, an officer observed a boy walking near Life Point Church who threw something down when he passed by. Turns out it was a burglary tool called a slim jim. The officer threw it in a dumpster.
Something’s Burning
Police responded to a call on Lincoln Street at 7:18. A resident said the people downstairs were smoking something that smelled like a combo of burnt plastic and paint thinner.
When police talked to the woman who lived in the apartment, she said a visitor was doing drugs but she asked him to leave.
ODs and drug related
- Police responded to a possible OD at the Sunset Bowling Lanes just before 8:30 pm on Tuesday The woman was alert when they arrived.
- A man approached officers on Gallia Street just after 5:30 pm on Thursday. He told officers he’d been doing drugs and hadn’t had anything to drink in four days. He also threatened to jump into traffic. He was transported to SOMC.
- Just after 7 pm, there was a report of an OD on 20th street. The man left the scene before police arrived.
- At 7:30 pm an OD was reported at the Family Dollar. The man said it was an issue with his blood pressure medication and he didn’t need help.
Threatening to Jump
Just before 9:30 pm police offered aid to a man who had climbed to the other side of the bars on the Grant Bridge and was threatening to jump unless people stayed away from him.
He was taken to SOMC for a mental evaluation.
Missing – Maybe Not
Police responded to Poplar Street just before 10 pm for a report of a missing toddler. Turns out she wasn’t missing but just in bed.
Shots Fired
At 9:53 pm on Tuesday, police responded to 8th street for a report of two men in black shooting at a man. Police took the man’s statement.
Just after 10 pm on Wednesday, officers responded to Wayne Avenue for a report of a man in the middle of the street firing a gun. Police detained two people.
Where there’s a will
A disagreement over an estate has potential heirs behaving badly. Police were called out to Mabert Road just before 11 am on Wednesday by a man that said people had been threatening to burn down his house. He says they also drained the oil out a vehicle that was awarded to him by the estate.
He said the messages were being sent via an app. Officers will need to launch a cyber-investigation to find out where they are coming from.
Missing Meds
A Boundary Street man called just after noon to report that someone came in and stole his medication while he was hospitalized in Columbus.
His front window was busted out. Officers took a report.