Portsmouth officers found a couple living in a filthy, dangerous house infested with roaches and came to the aid of a child found wandering in the road. We hit the highlights of the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing.
Shots Fired?
Just after midnight, a Linden Avenue caller reported 6 gunshots behind his home. Police checked the area but didn’t find anything suspicious.
Suspicious Activity
- At 12:58 am, a caller reported a woman slumped over in a van near the gas pumps at Kroger. Police found an elderly couple in the van who didn’t seem to be in distress. Officers advised them to park in a marked space in the parking lot.
- Police responded to Thomas Avenue at 2:48 am. A man complained people in a dark car threw things at him and harassed him. When police caught up with the individuals, they took one man into custody for a blood alcohol test. Officers stood by until his passenger was able to get a ride home and they arranged for the vehicle to be towed. The suspect was then dropped off at the jail.
Under The Influence
- A Poplar Street caller reported people using drugs in a silver SUV parked near their home just after 2 am. Police checked out the report.
- Just before 6 am, a caller reported a woman slumped over in the road near the Young Street viaduct. Police could not locate the woman.
- A Gallia Street caller reported a woman lying by the railroad tracks just before 4 pm. Police checked on the woman and advised her to move along.
- Just after 4 pm, police responded to the Silver Palace for a report of a woman passed out behind the wheel of a car.
- At 10:40 pm, a caller reported an apparently high woman talking to herself and acting strangely in the 1300 block of Summit Street. Police could not locate the woman.
School Bus Violation
Just before 9:30 am, a school bus driver reported a vehicle failed to stop for the bus. The driver had a description of the car and the license plate number. There was no video of the incident.
Officers made arrangements to meet with the driver to take a full statement.
Leaking Gas
PPD responded to a report of a pickup leaking gasoline in the parking lot of a physician’s office on 11th Street.
Police notified the owner and they arranged to have the vehicle towed. Officers asked City Services to take care of the cleanup.
Eff You Very Much
At 10:21 am, officers responded to a report of a very rude panhandler in the Kroger parking lot. The woman asked for money, and if people refused, she responded with “Fu$! You.”
Police spoke to her and she left the property.
Parking Crackdown
- Police impounded a vehicle parked in the 1200 block of Kinneys Land at 10:33 am. The car was in pretty bad shape. Plastic covered the back passenger window, the vehicle was dirty, it had a donut on the front driver’s side instead of a tire. Police had previously cited the vehicle back on 4/20. There was no answer at the registered owner’s address.
- Twenty minutes later, officers also towed a vehicle from the 1800 block of Kendall Avenue. It was blocking the fire hydrant.
Caught in the Act
A Sunrise Avenue man caught thieves breaking into his camper just after 11 am. The pair got away with several tools.
One suspect carried a green cam backpack and rode a bicycle. The other was dressed all in black. They were last spotted heading towards Kinneys Lane.
Officers were unable to find them.
Oops!
Just after noon, a Portsmouth City Garbage truck hit a deputy’s parked cruiser on Blue Rock Drive.
Hey! That’s My Stuff
- A Wilson Avenue mom told police her child’s phone was taken by another child but she knew where it was at. Police checked the address she gave them at 1:19 pm, but could not locate the phone.
- At 2:07 pm, a citizen reported a stolen gun. Police took information for a report.
- Officers answered a call to St. Patrick’s Court at 3:10 pm after a woman said her neighbor spotted the people working on her garden stealing items. The gardener said the only thing he took was the old brick pavers they dug up to till the garden. Police determined there was no crime.
- At 4:54 pm, a man reported a phone stolen from a local rehab facility. Officers took his information but were unable to contact anyone at the rehab facility to follow up.
Couple Living in Dangerous Filth
Officers came to the assistance of a Portsmouth couple living in a dangerous situation on Robinson Avenue.
The wife called the officers at 12:43 pm to ask them to check on her husband because she was unable to.
When police arrived at the scene they found the home filled with animal feces and roaches. Officers described it as a fire hazard due to trash piled throughout the home.
The narrow walkway between the trash only allowed one person at a time to get through. The man and woman stay in different parts of the home and could not get to each other.
Police immediately contacted Adult Protective Services and took information for a report.
Kids In Danger?
- At 1:12 pm, officers responded to 6th Street for a report of children living in a home with drug activity and no running water. Police said they heard people inside but no one would come to the door.
- A worried neighbor advised police about a little boy who said he was afraid to go home because his dad and brother beat him. Officers immediately went to the scene and contacted Children Services. Police determined there was no abuse in the home and that the child did not like to be told ‘no’ or punished and may have a learning disability. The caseworker and officers offered the family advice on where to obtain assistance with their problems.
Trashy Behavior
An unhappy citizen contacted police at 1:14 pm to report someone had filled his can with garbage and he couldn’t use it.
Police got in touch with the city and asked if they could pick up his trash early. They did.
Child Wandering In Road
A caller contacted police just before 1:30 pm and said they found a 3-year-old wandering in the middle of Kinney Lane. They described the child as dirty, barefoot, and wearing pajamas.
The caller said a man came to collect the child and said he was the one watching him. Officers contacted the child’s grandmother who said the toddler was playing hide and seek with his brother and they hadn’t realized he wandered off. Police said the child seemed to be fine.