Gallia Street Gone Wild: A Day of Chaos, Confusion, and Catch-and-Release in Portsmouth

From shouting matches and food fights to drug busts and shirtless sidewalk sleepers, it was another unpredictable day on the streets of Portsmouth. Here's a roundup of bizarre and troubling incidents that had police bouncing from one end of town to the other—only for most suspects to end up right back on the streets. 🍿 Late-Night Meltdown at Marathon Just before 1 a.m., employees at the Marathon on Gallia Street called police to report a woman cussing up a storm and throwing items around the store. While no one wanted to press charges, staff made it clear they didn’t want to see her again. Officers trespassed the woman and sent her on her way. 🌮 Breakfast Breakdown at Speedway At 5 a.m., Speedway employees just down the road had their own trouble brewing—an apparently high woman was ripping open food packages and creating chaos. This time, police took her into custody. Officers also impounded drugs and booked her into the Scioto County Jail. 👕 Muscle Shirt Heist at Family Dollar By 8 a.m., the 11th Street Family Dollar was the scene of a muscle shirt mystery. A man reportedly walked out with a handful of stolen tanks before strolling across the street to loiter outside a nearby rehab facility. Officers briefly detained him but had to let him go when the store couldn’t immediately produce surveillance footage. He was warned charges might be coming. 💤 Sidewalk Snoozer on 15th Street Around 3 p.m., calls started coming in from Findlay Manor on 15th Street, where residents reported a shirtless man stumbling through the parking lot, lying on the ground, and generally behaving erratically. Police didn’t find him at first, but 30 minutes later, he turned up passed out on the sidewalk in front of a local business. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and booked into jail. But don’t worry—Portsmouth Municipal Court promptly released him on his own recognizance. He’s due back in court June 24. 🚪 Dexter Street Disturbance And over on Dexter Street at 7 a.m., a very confused man was going door to door, knocking and asking for a woman who doesn’t live there. According to residents, he even tried to force his way into one home. They declined to press charges but asked police to keep an eye on the man. Officers agreed to step up patrols in the area. 🌀 The Takeaway From mental illness and drug use to petty theft and public disturbances, it's clear Portsmouth police are doing their best to put out fires—often with one hand tied behind their backs. Most of the people involved were released within hours, if they were detained at all. The streets of Gallia and beyond continue to serve as a revolving door—where chaos checks in, and accountability rarely stays the night.

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