What looked like a bizarre early-morning incident at a local Tim Hortons took an unexpected — and thankfully calm — turn thanks to quick-thinking first responders.
Portsmouth Police were called to the Chillicothe Street Tim Hortons after reports that a man was attempting to get inside an Ohio Department of Transportation truck parked in the lot. Understandably, that raised alarms for employees and witnesses.
When officers arrived, they quickly realized this wasn’t a criminal situation — it was a mental health crisis.
Police determined the man was confused and suffering from mental health issues. He told officers he believed his own car had been stolen, which led him to mistakenly try to get into the ODOT vehicle. ODOT workers confirmed there was no damage to the truck and no one had been harmed.
Instead of escalating the situation, officers slowed things down and focused on getting the man safe. They were able to contact his wife, who came to the scene and took him home.
No charges were filed.
💙 Why This Matters
Incidents like this highlight how often police and first responders are quietly handling mental health emergencies — situations where compassion, patience, and de-escalation matter far more than handcuffs.
What could have turned into a frightening or confrontational encounter instead ended with a confused man reunited with his family and no one hurt — a reminder that sometimes the real win is simply making sure someone gets home safely.
