It was a wild night in West Portsmouth after a woman called 911 just before 9 p.m. claiming her ex-boyfriend busted into her house, attacked her new man with a crowbar, and then fled with a small posse of backup.
According to the frantic caller, the ex and three or four other men barged in uninvited, took a swing at her current boyfriend, and then bolted from the scene. Moments later, another report came in—someone spotted a black Chevy Tahoe speeding away, packed with possible suspects.
An ambulance rushed to the scene to check out the injured boyfriend for a head injury, but he refused to go to the hospital. That didn’t stop the investigation from heating up.
Shortly afterward, Southern Ohio Medical Center notified the Sheriff’s Office that one of the possible suspects may have shown up in their ER. Deputies made a beeline for the hospital.
Meanwhile, officers were also working leads on 17th Street, where they tracked down and brought in multiple individuals for questioning. Three of them may have been juveniles, as their names were blacked out in the official report.
Despite the flurry of interviews and manhunts, no arrests were made that night.
🔎 No Easy Answers in Complex Cases
This crowbar caper may sound like something out of a reality show, but law enforcement says it’s a reminder that domestic violence incidents are often messy, emotional, and legally complicated. With multiple people involved—some possibly underage—and conflicting stories flying, deputies say the investigation is still ongoing.
“Just because no one was cuffed that night doesn’t mean the case is closed,” one law enforcement source noted. “These things take time to untangle.”
🧠 What To Do If You’re in a Dangerous Relationship Situation
Domestic disputes like this can turn violent fast. If you feel unsafe or think someone might lash out, here’s what to do:
- 🚪 Don’t let them in — If someone shows up uninvited, call 911 immediately.
- 📸 Document everything — Texts, voicemails, damage, injuries. It can all help later.
- 🚓 Report even minor incidents — They often escalate.
- 🧑⚖️ Consider a protection order if the threat is ongoing.
- ☎️ Reach out for help — Local domestic violence hotlines and shelters can offer safe options.
For now, the Sheriff’s Office is still working this case. But one thing’s clear—when it comes to crowbars, break-ins, and jealous exes, it’s never just drama. It’s dangerous.
