Portsmouth Police were once again called to assist a troubled homeless man with a long history of arrests—an incident that underscores the city’s ongoing struggle with homelessness, addiction, and mental illness.
Around 11:30 a.m., staff at Grace Community Church reported the man had spent several hours on their porch before moving into the backyard. Officers arriving on the scene recognized him immediately—they’ve dealt with him for years.
A Long History of Struggles
The man has been arrested nearly 70 times, often for disruptive or dangerous behavior. He is known locally for episodes of screaming, stripping off his clothes, and running into traffic.
In 2021, he was arrested for public indecency, intoxication, and disorderly conduct. That same year, he overdosed on the sidewalk outside the homeless shelter just minutes after being treated for injuries on the levy.
Police arrested him 10 times in 2022. At one point, he was sent for treatment and managed to stay out of custody for almost a year. But by August 2023, court records again listed him as homeless, and officers have responded to numerous calls about his behavior since then.
No Long-Term Solutions
This time, officers transported him to a local crisis center in hopes of getting him help. But without an inpatient mental health hospital in Portsmouth, authorities acknowledge it’s difficult to find lasting care for individuals with severe, overlapping struggles of mental illness and substance abuse.
Instead, the cycle repeats—short-term interventions followed by a return to the streets, more arrests, and more calls for service.
Part of a Bigger Crisis
Police stress that the man’s story is not unique. It’s part of a larger crisis in Portsmouth and across southern Ohio, where homelessness, addiction, and untreated mental illness collide.
While officers continue to respond with compassion and persistence, they say the long-term solutions—treatment beds, supportive housing, and consistent care—are still in short supply.
