Portsmouth Police – Custody and COVID
An attempt to mediate a custody dispute led to a Portsmouth Police Officer’s possible exposure to COVID-19.
It all started at 1:32 pm on Saturday when officers were called to the Tim Horton’s on Chillicothe. A father worried about his child’s safety was waiting for police in a mini-van along with his child. The child, who normally resides with its mother, claimed abuse at home and wanted to stay with its father.
Officers went to the mother’s home to get her side of the story. She agreed to allow the child to go with its father for the weekend. This was contingent on the dad agreeing to take the child to school on Monday and return it home Monday evening.
Under Quarantine
The mom also had another critical piece of information that the father had apparently neglected to mention. The woman also told the officer that the father is positive for COVID-19 and that the officer may have been exposed.
The officer returned to Tim Horton’s parking lot to the waiting father and child. The officer informed the dad he could have the child for the weekend as long as he took the kid to school and returned it home Monday evening. The dad was advised that if he wanted to change his current custody arrangements, he’d have to get an emergency order from the court.
The dad did confirm to the officer that he is under order to quarantine and is waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test. Police determined there were no criminal issues involved.
When you’re under quarantine waiting for COVID-19 test results, you are strongly urged to remain at home and avoid contact with other people, especially those who are at high-risk for developing complications from COVID. You should also monitor yourself for fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Exposed?
Another PPD officer faced COVID-19 exposure after responding to a domestic call on Rose Street in the early hours of Sunday morning. A man called police at 3:23 am to report his wife was ‘going crazy, throwing things, and kicking him.’
Police said both spouses were intoxicated and advised them to go to bed and work it out in the morning. The couple told the officer they were both COVID-19 positive.
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