Portsmouth police were called to mediate a parking dispute between neighboring businesses after confusion over shared parking spaces escalated into two calls for officers.
The first call came from the Verizon Wireless store on Young Street after a man said someone was trying to file a false report against him and he wanted to speak with police.
When officers arrived, they learned the dispute involved parking spaces in a lot shared by two storefronts.
Police spoke with everyone involved and determined it was a misunderstanding. According to the report, the manager of the neighboring smoke shop believed Verizon employees had called police on him, but officers said that was not the case.
Everyone was advised, and officers reported that the situation had been de-escalated.
That peace lasted about 20 minutes.
Police were then called next door to Riverside Smoke Shop for another complaint involving a vehicle in a parking space that someone wanted moved.
Officers again spoke with the smoke shop manager and Verizon employees.
This time, police said the disagreement was a civil issue involving what was described as a fifth parking spot in the shared lot.
Verizon employees told officers they wanted the man trespassed if he returned and asked their customers to move their vehicles.
Police advised everyone again and said the landlord would need to settle the parking arrangement.
No arrests were made, and the matter was left for the property owner to sort out.
