When a call came in from Lucasville about a teen threatening to run away, Scioto County Sheriff’s Deputies didn’t just respond — they stepped into the role of protectors, mediators, and guardians.
A Family in Distress
Deputies arrived to find a teen who was on probation and upset enough to talk about leaving home.
The situation was complicated: the teen’s mother was 90 minutes away at work, leaving no immediate adult supervision, and the juvenile probation office couldn’t respond until the next morning.
Instead of treating the situation as a crime, officers focused on stabilizing the home and making sure the teen stayed safe for the night.
Compassion Over Confrontation
Deputies worked with family members and determined that the child’s older sibling could stay with them until the mother returned home.
By evening’s end, the crisis had calmed — no arrests, no handcuffs, just patience and problem-solving.
Incidents like this are becoming more common, as local deputies often find themselves dealing with mental health, family conflict, and juvenile crises in addition to traditional law enforcement calls.
First responders say the key is listening, not lecturing, and ensuring the right follow-up happens later — in this case, through the juvenile court system the next morning.