A man’s report that his wife had been struck with the butt of a gun set Portsmouth officers in motion this week, chasing down leads from the hospital to convenience stores.
The initial call came from King’s Daughters Medical Center, where the alleged victim was being treated. Officers then followed the trail to Waller Street to interview a witness, checked a carryout on the Scioto Trail for security footage, and contacted the hospital about its own video. Another officer swung by the Super 8 and searched Rosemount Road for any sign of evidence on his way into work.
Despite the extensive legwork, police have since listed the case as closed. They have not released details on what they discovered or why the investigation was shut down.
Cases like this demonstrate the amount of effort that can go into even a single allegation. From canvassing witnesses to combing through security cameras, officers often spend hours chasing leads that may ultimately fizzle out.
Still, investigators stress that each call is taken seriously — whether it results in charges or not.