Portsmouth police made two separate trips to Wayne Hills Monday as the housing authority dealt with homeless people staying on its property and residents allowing others to stay in apartments.
The first call came shortly after 9 a.m.
The Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority asked officers to speak with management about a homeless camp set up behind dumpsters on the property.
While officers were there, they checked the people involved and discovered an outstanding warrant.
A woman was taken into custody, transported to the police station while officers picked up the warrant paperwork, and then taken to the Scioto County Jail.
A report and booking information were completed.
Second Call: “I Let Them Stay, Now They Have to Go”
Police were called back to Wayne Hills later that afternoon for a different problem.
A woman told officers she had allowed people to stay in her apartment for at least two weeks, but now wanted them gone because PMHA was threatening to evict her.
She told police she did not even know their real names, identifying them only by nicknames.
Officers advised two people of their rights, detained them, and ultimately took two men into custody.
Police completed two reports before clearing the scene.
The available log does not list the charges connected to the afternoon arrests.
The two calls highlight an issue Wayne Hills staff and residents continue to deal with: people with nowhere else to go ending up in common areas, behind buildings, or staying unofficially with tenants who may then put their own housing at risk.
In one morning and afternoon, police dealt with a homeless camp behind dumpsters, an outstanding warrant, unwanted apartment guests, and three people taken into custody.