Portsmouth Police were called to Dexter Avenue this week to assist the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force as detectives served court paperwork giving the State of Ohio provisional control over a local residence.
Officers arrived to help execute a court order showing the state had taken temporary legal possession of the property as part of an ongoing drug investigation.
The homeowner was not present at the time. A woman inside the residence told officers he was currently hospitalized.
A detective taped the court documents to the front door and advised the woman that nothing inside the home was to be removed.
⚖️ What Does “Provisional Title” Mean?
Under Ohio law, prosecutors can seek civil forfeiture of property believed to be connected to drug trafficking or other serious crimes.
That doesn’t always mean someone has already been convicted.
Instead, the state can ask a judge for provisional title, which allows authorities to:
- Secure the property
• Prevent items from being removed
• Preserve evidence
• Stop suspected criminal activity tied to the location
• Begin legal proceedings to permanently seize the property
In simple terms: the state temporarily steps in as the legal caretaker of the home while the case moves forward.
If prosecutors ultimately prove the property was used to facilitate illegal drug activity, the state can permanently seize it. If not, ownership may be returned.
🧠 How Property Seizure Works in Ohio
Ohio reformed its asset forfeiture laws in recent years, requiring:
- Court approval
• Clear links between the property and alleged criminal activity
• Criminal charges for most forfeitures
• Due process for property owners
The goal, lawmakers say, is to target drug operations and organized crime—not innocent owners—while still giving suspects the right to contest the seizure in court.