Forget cookouts and backyard parties — one Portsmouth woman decided to take her Tiki Torch straight to the streets. Deputies say it wasn’t exactly the neighborhood block party anyone asked for.
Around 11 p.m., Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Marne Avenue after a caller reported a half-dressed woman screaming in the middle of the road while carrying what looked like a torch. When officers arrived, they found the woman — who, yes, was wielding a genuine Tiki Torch — and advised her to knock it off. Deputies warned that if they had to come back, she’d be arrested for disorderly conduct.
What Counts as Disorderly Conduct?
In Ohio, disorderly conduct is kind of the “catch-all” charge for behavior that disturbs the peace. That can include:
Public yelling or screaming in a way that alarms or annoys others.
Being intoxicated in public and causing a scene.
Blocking traffic or refusing to leave an area when asked.
Fighting or threatening behavior in public.
While it’s often treated as a minor misdemeanor, it can escalate into more serious charges if someone’s actions put others at risk. In this case, deputies opted for a warning — but they made it clear the line between strange and unlawful had just about been crossed.
