Portsmouth police responded to a call at Save-A-Lot after a woman reported seeing a man she believed to be a registered sex offender with a 5-year-old child.
According to the report, the woman told officers she was certain the man was a registered offender. She described him as wearing a red ballcap and dark clothing and said he left the area in a dark-colored Chevy Equinox with a temporary tag.
Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the man or the vehicle.
As part of follow-up reporting, SCDN checked the Ohio Sex Offender Registry using the name the woman provided to police. No registered offender by that name was listed.
While this specific report could not be confirmed, the concern itself is not unfounded. There are currently about 60 registered sex offenders living within the city of Portsmouth alone—and that number only includes individuals who are compliant and properly registered as required by law.
Authorities continue to urge residents to report suspicious behavior, while also reminding the public that accurate information and verification are critical when dealing with allegations of this nature.