One Man, Dozens of Calls: Portsmouth Police Spend the Day Tracking Troubled Wanderer Across Downtown

Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Portsmouth Police spent the better part of a day responding to multiple complaints about the same man, as he wandered through businesses, caused disturbances, and repeatedly alarmed employees across downtown. Officers handled each call professionally and patiently — but by evening, the man had been formally barred from several local properties. Morning: Harassing People Near the Marting’s Building The first call came from the Marting’s Building, where a homeless man — described as being in his 20s, wearing calf-high boots, a black hat, black coat, gray sweats, and carrying a black backpack — was reportedly harassing people. By the time officers arrived, he had already slipped away and entered PNC Bank, but again left before police made contact. Minutes Later: Demanding Jobs at 4th & Gay A second call quickly followed. This time, a business owner at 4th & Gay reported a thin man dressed in all black demanding employment, then leaving on foot toward Chillicothe Street. Officers investigated and determined it was the same individual. He refused to provide ID, but since employees said he left when asked and made no threats, police legally could not detain him. Officers warned him not to cause further problems. Afternoon: Upsetting Employees at Portsmouth Nutrition Not long after, employees at Portsmouth Nutrition on Gallia Street called 911 to report a man “possibly on drugs” who wasn’t speaking clearly and was alarming customers. Again, officers discovered it was the same man — who insisted he was simply trying to apply for a job, but his behavior continued to cause disturbances. Evening Twist: A Hair Salon Reports a Frightening Encounter Around 7 p.m., officers were dispatched to an apartment building after a woman requested to speak with police about a troubling incident that happened earlier in the day at her workplace, Headquarters Hair Salon on 4th Street. She told officers an unknown man — matching the same description — had come into the salon appearing high and yelled: “Give me all your money!” But before employees could panic, he quickly shifted and began demanding a job instead. She stated: He never showed a weapon He didn’t physically threaten anyone Employees told him to leave, and he did Police responded earlier, but she never got to speak to them Her report aligns with what multiple Downtown businesses experienced throughout the day. Police Take Action After several calls involving the same individual, officers eventually located him again and served him with paperwork trespassing him from several businesses. As of now, the man remains out on the street, but he is officially barred from the locations that requested action. What to Do When Someone Causes a Disturbance at Your Business Police remind businesses: Call 911 if someone is threatening, intoxicated, or refuses to leave. Even if the person “seems confused,” safety comes first. Don’t engage physically. Step back, keep distance, and wait for officers. Trespass paperwork is powerful. Once issued, returning to the property can result in criminal charges, even if no new threat is made. Document everything. Note the time, description, and behavior — it helps officers connect incidents, as seen in this case.

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