A stolen cellphone didn’t just show up on a map Monday night—it rang police straight to the front door.
Just after 7:30 p.m., a man called 911 to report his stolen phone was pinging at a Charles Street home. The caller told dispatch that tracking data showed the device inside the residence—and officers could soon confirm that for themselves.
🔔 Ping. Ping. Busted.
Officers from the Portsmouth Police Department waited while New Boston Police Department obtained a search warrant for the home.
In addition to Life360 tracking, officers could hear the phone pinging inside the house, triggered from the owner’s Apple Watch.
Once the warrant was executed, police recovered the stolen phone.
🚔 Multiple Charges Filed
During the search, officers took Monica Siddle into custody. She was booked into the Scioto County Jail on charges of:
- Receiving stolen property
- Obstructing official business
- Fugitive from justice
⚖️ Fugitive—Then Free
Siddle later appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court, where she was released on her own recognizance, despite being listed as a fugitive from justice from another jurisdiction.
She is scheduled to return to court on January 8.
❓ Tracked, Caught, Released
Technology helped locate the stolen phone down to the house—and officers followed the evidence straight to an arrest.
But for many watching the case unfold, one question lingers:
👉 How does someone charged as a fugitive from justice walk free the same day?
For now, the phone is back where it belongs—and the court date is on the calendar.
