Portsmouth police responded to two overdose-related calls late at night, one of which resulted in an officer being injured while assisting at the scene.
Officers were called to a Portsmouth home around 11 p.m. for a report of a possible overdose. When EMS arrived, they determined the individual was already deceased.
Police contacted the coroner’s office, which provided a time of death and arranged for the body to be picked up. While officers were on scene, an employee for the property’s landlord said arrangements would be made to repair a window on the east side of the residence that had been broken during entry.
During the response, an officer was struck by a hypodermic syringe, prompting an immediate trip to Southern Ohio Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
In a separate incident, Portsmouth police were also dispatched to the Oasis Convenience Mart after reports of a man on the lot shaking uncontrollably and repeatedly falling to the ground.
When EMS arrived, they determined the man was suffering from an overdose and provided medical care.
Police have repeatedly warned that overdose scenes can be extremely dangerous for first responders, particularly due to the presence of needles and other drug paraphernalia that may not be immediately visible—posing serious risks even as officers work to provide help.