Tempers flared once again at a 22nd Street juvenile group home when two residents got into a physical fight, prompting calls to both police and paramedics.
🚑 Medics Rushed — But Not Needed
First responders arrived quickly at the scene, but medics ultimately determined no one needed hospital care. Officers, however, did take one juvenile into custody following the altercation.
📞 Franklin County Says: Just Bring Him Back
After speaking with Franklin County Children Services — which had placed the youth at the facility — local police were told to return the teen to the group home, which they did.
🔁 Same Old Story: Franklin County’s Problem, Scioto County’s Burden
This isn’t a one-time issue. As we’ve reported time and time again, Franklin County continues to export its troubled youth to group homes in Scioto County — even as local kids struggle to find placement due to overcrowding and resource shortages.
At one point, Riverview South, a facility run by Self Reliance Group Homes, told SCDN that the Portsmouth Police Department asked them to stop calling 911 over runaway teens — citing call volume and pressure from city officials.
“In November 2022, we received a nuisance letter from the City Solicitor because the Police Chief complained about the number of runaway calls,” an administrator told us. “They made it clear they didn’t want us calling anymore.”
🚨 But Portsmouth Police strongly deny those claims, saying they’ve never turned their back on public safety.
⚠️ The Bigger Issue
While these turf battles play out between agencies, local neighborhoods bear the brunt of out-of-county placements. Fights, runaways, and emergency calls are becoming the norm — and residents are left wondering how much more they’re expected to handle.
It’s time for state leaders to step in and reassess how Ohio handles troubled youth placements, and to ensure Scioto County isn’t being used as a dumping ground for cases no one else wants to deal with.