• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Thursday, June 12
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    20 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/12/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    BAD BEHAVIOR

    Neighbor Accuses Boy of Torturing Cats

    police investigation

    Police Investigate Multiple Reports of Sexual Assault 

    SCDN File Photo

    Fired and Flustered: Man Refuses to Leave Tim Hortons After Getting the Boot 

    Hot Wheels: Truck Catches Fire—Twice—After Driver Tries to Restart It 

    naked

    Buck-Naked and Breaking Point: Wild Morning at Four Keys Inn 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/11/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Sheriff sticker

    Busy Day for First Responders in Scioto County: EMS Runs High, Crime Stays Steady 

    Donald Sharp

    From Park Panic to Aldi Alley: Donald Sharp Arrested Again 

    Midnight Madness: Cops Respond to Back-to-Back Assaults at PMHA Properties 

    Portsmouth Kroger

    KROGER CHAOS! Shoplifting, Warrants & Methadone Mayhem

    Police lights in rear view 1

    Gunfire, Stick Fights, and a Royal Rumble Leave Cops Scrambling 

    man with weed

    PUFF PUFF PASS… THE BUCK! Pot Complaint at Tracy Park Highlights Sticky Rules Around Public Toking 

    Tammy Harmon

    Threats and Felonies: Woman Busted for Witness Intimidation 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/10/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    “Next Time, I Won’t Call Police” 

    good cops

    🚓 From Disturbance to Compassion: Portsmouth Police Step Up to Help Woman in Need 

    scam alert

    🚨 SCAM ALERT: Fake Cop Wants Your Cash – Don’t Fall for It! 🚨 

    Sheriff sticker

    Domestic Disputes, Prowlers, and Pileups: Busy Sunday for Scioto County First Responders 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

    ‘Praise God!’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Remarkable Progress After Harrowing Weeks

    Cathy Coleman

    Cautious Hope and Harsh Realities: New Details Emerge on Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Condition 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel This Week’s Meeting 

    Robert Horton

    Sudden Twist: Horton Court Dates Scrapped Ahead of Trial 

    ‘A Sign of Hope’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Small Improvements Amid Ongoing Critical Condition 

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder Gary Jenkins Unveils New Office Website 

    Staggering 236 Recovery Houses in Area — and the Fight for Reform Faces Pushback 

    Cathy Coleman

    Community Urged to Pray For Cathy Coleman as Family Faces Devastating Update 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Scottie Powell on Trans Sanctuary Resolution: “Symbolic, Not Substantive” 

    Cathy Coleman

    Update from the Scioto County Commissioners on Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    What Did Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Sanctuary Resolution Really Say? 

    Portsmouth Rehab

    Portsmouth Rejects LGBTQ+ Sanctuary City Status in Heated Council Vote 

    Cathy Coleman

    It’s a Miracle! – Scioto County Rallies Around Commissioner Cathy Coleman After Medical Crisis Turnaround 

    Scioto County Rallies in Prayer for Commissioner Cathy Coleman After Tragic Crash 

    Risky Business? City Wants to Sell $4.5 Million in Bonds

    Portsmouth LGBT Sanctuary City Proposal Scrapped – New Resolution Coming

    Portsmouth Council Takes First Step Toward Homelessness Task Force 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel Without Explanation 

    Davis Ready for Flying Cars: Scioto Commissioner Eyes Future of Air Mobility at County Airport 

  • Feel Good

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

    How Bowling Can Improve Your Mental Health

    good cops

    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

    Backyard camping

    Backyard Adventure: Unforgettable Family Camping

    Sunshine or Snowflakes: Which Season Wins America’s Heart?

  • Obituaries
    Jerome Tomasheski

    Jerome Tomasheski 65 of McDermott

    Fredrick Grant Salisbury

    Fredrick Grant Salisbury, 82 of Stockdale

    Barbara Williams

    Janet Ruth Nance, 100 of Portsmouth

    Roy Harold Arthur Sr.

    Roy Harold Arthur Sr., 83 of Friendship

    Barbara Williams

    Julie Kay Johnson, 50 of Portsmouth

    Lloyd Logan

    Lloyd Logan, 98 of South Shore

    William McGinnis

    William McGinnis, Jr., 84, of Wheelersburg

    Harvey A. Ruel

    Harvey A. Ruel, 75 of Portsmouth

    Patricia A. Lewis

    Patricia A. Lewis, 72 of West Portsmouth

    Martha Byers Yost

    Martha Byers Yost, 84, of Portsmouth

    Patricia Ann Burchett

    Patricia Ann Burchett, 83 of Hillsboro

    Constance V. McQuay

    Constance V. McQuay, 89, of Waverly

    Jerry Paul Igaz

    Jerry Paul Igaz Sr. 55, of West Portsmouth

    Barbara Williams

    Lori Smith, 56 of McDermott

    Tina Marie Gollihue

    Tina Marie Gollihue, 61 of Franklin Furnace,

    Nichole Leigh Blanton

    Nichole Leigh Blanton, 41 of Portsmouth

    Deborah Sue Ratliff Bell

    Deborah Sue Ratliff Bell, 66 of Portsmouth

    Brenda K. Bentley

    Brenda K. Bentley 75 of West Portsmouth

    Rex Fitzgerald

    Rex Fitzgerald, 67 of Portsmouth

    Diana Lynn Redden

    Diana Lynn Redden, 57 of Vanceburg

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Portsmouth’s Top 10 Hot Spots For Crime

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
3 years ago
in Public Safety
Portsmouth’s Top 10 Hot Spots For Crime
ShareTweetEmail

Portsmouth’s Top 10 Hot Spots For Crime

Please Support This Local Business

Most of Portsmouth’s crimes seem to be tied to drug use and homelessness, and those reports tend to come in from the same locations repeatedly. We’ll round up the locations most often seen on the Portsmouth Police logs and talk about what types of issues officers are dealing with.

Page 1 of 10

Speedway

The issues at the popular gas station and convenience store on Gallia Street are so bad that Speedway’s corporate headquarters contacted Portsmouth Police to ask if there’s anything they can do about the problem of panhandlers harassing customers and employees. 

RELATED POSTS

Police Investigate Multiple Reports of Sexual Assault 

‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

Holiday Inn or Homeless Hub? Ongoing Incidents at Downtown Hotel Raise Big Questions for Portsmouth’s Future

Panhandlers, drug users, and homeless people who refuse to leave the store seem to be a constant problem and an issue with shoplifters. This isn’t helped by the fact that Speedway appears to be a popular spot for police to drop off people who have no place to go, and it’s a favorite of rehab facilities giving someone the boot. 

Page 2 of 10

Kroger

Portsmouth’s largest and most popular grocery store sees a cross-section of everyone in the community. That includes drug addicts overdosing in the bathrooms, homeless people making a scene in the lobby, and panhandlers harassing customers in the parking lot.  

The store is also a favorite target of shoplifters. Its central location also seems to make the parking lot a popular place for facilities to drop off people they no longer wish to house. Multiple times officers have discovered individuals dropped off by Kentucky rehabs. 

Page 3 of 10

Tracy Park

Tracy Park is a favorite hangout of the homeless, with police sometimes having to chase off dozens of individuals in the morning. 

The stage area is an especially popular spot for sleeping and charging phones. The park is the scene of multiple incidents of drug overdoses, mental health episodes, and fights between homeless individuals. 

Police often have to force individuals who camp in the park to clean up trash and drug paraphernalia, including needles. 

Page 4 of 10

Kendall Heights/Wayne Hills

The public housing project normally receives multiple police visits on a daily basis. Many of the calls are in response to domestic and other disturbances.

Police also deal with instances of drug overdoses, mental health crises, and trespassers spotted in vacant apartments. 

Page 5 of 10

Royal Inn

The Royal Inn on Kendall Avenue is the scene of frequent reports of disturbances and a number of drug overdoses. The hotel seems to be a favorite of individuals who have recently been released from rehab.

The individuals who reside here are often the source of issues happening just down the street at Speedway. 

Page 6 of 10

The Post Office

The Portsmouth Post Office is really a seasonal entry on this list. In warmer weather, not too much happens. However, when it turns cold outside, that’s when the homeless and addicts take shelter there.

Not only do these individuals sometimes bother customers, but they can also be very territorial over their piece of the post office and get into altercations with each other. 

One troubled individual actually tied the doors of the post office shut last winter to prevent officers from removing her belongings. 

Page 7 of 10

Downtown Bars

Portsmouth’s downtown bar scene, including places like Frank n’ Steins Lounge, the Party Time Pub, JJs Shenanigans, and Richard Noggins, is pretty quiet during the day – but come the evening hours, Portsmouth Police frequently responds to reports of altercations, and even full-scale bar brawls. 

Despite frequent checks by officers in the evening, things frequently get out of hand. 

Page 8 of 10

Young Street Overpass

This area is a favorite spot for homeless individuals to hang out. Officers frequently respond to issues involving drug use, and it’s also a popular spot to locate folks with open warrants. 

Individuals who call the area home often wander out onto Gallia Street, causing issues for local businesses. 

Page 9 of 10

Four Keys Inn

The Four Keys Inn on the Scioto Trail seems to attract troubled individuals, and officers frequently respond to issues there. Like the Royal Inn, it houses homeless people who happen to have a few dollars in their pocket and individuals recently released from rehab facilities. 

Officers often discover individuals with open warrants on the premises. 

Page 10 of 10

8th Street/ Campbell Avenue

This area generates a lot of calls for public intoxication, suspicious activity, and concerns about individuals occupying abandoned houses and vacant lots. 

Residents who work hard to maintain their homes fall victim to the problems generated by individuals who do not maintain their properties and fallout from individuals with addiction issues. 

Tags: Featured
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 06/10/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

June 10, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 06/09/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

June 9, 2025
Barbara Williams

Julie Kay Johnson, 50 of Portsmouth

June 10, 2025
dog animal neglect

Horror at the Dog House! 80 Dobermans Rescued from Squalid Hoarding Nightmare

June 9, 2025
man with weed

PUFF PUFF PASS… THE BUCK! Pot Complaint at Tracy Park Highlights Sticky Rules Around Public Toking 

June 10, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.