Portsmouth police dealt with a string of calls over the weekend involving homeless individuals, people sleeping in public areas, and complaints about makeshift camps around the city.
🛒 MAN FOUND SLEEPING BETWEEN AT&T AND ALDI
Just after 12:30 p.m., callers reported a person sleeping on the sidewalk between AT&T and ALDI with a blanket pulled over them.
Officers responded and spoke with the man before trespassing him from the property.
Court records show the man has previous arrests involving:
- Disorderly conduct
- OVI
- Driving without a license
- Even driving on the sidewalk
🚑 MAN FOUND COVERED IN VOMIT AND FECES ON PORCH
Around 12:30 a.m., a Charles Street resident called 911 after discovering a strange man sitting on their porch screaming to himself.
When officers arrived, they reportedly found the man covered in vomit and feces.
Police called for an ambulance, and medics transported the man to Southern Ohio Medical Center for treatment.
🚙 PEOPLE LIVING IN SUV AT ALDI
Police were later called back to Aldi after complaints that people appeared to be living out of an SUV in the parking lot.
According to the report, trash and a cooler had been spread around the vehicle on the property.
Officers served the occupants with a barred notice and instructed them to remove the SUV from the lot within two days.
⛺ TENTS POP UP ON VACANT LOT
Another caller contacted police from 15th Street after spotting multiple people setting up tents on a vacant lot.
The property owner reportedly waited nearby in a black Tahoe while officers responded.
However, the group had already left before police arrived.
The owner advised officers he would contact police again if the group returned so they could be formally trespassed from the property.
⚠️ HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO STRAIN POLICE AND PROPERTY OWNERS
Calls involving homelessness have become increasingly common across Portsmouth and Scioto County.
Police are often called for complaints involving:
- People sleeping in public
- Tent camps
- Trespassing
- Mental health crises
- Public intoxication
- Trash and sanitation concerns
👀 A COMPLICATED ISSUE WITH NO EASY ANSWERS
Property owners often become frustrated by repeated trespassing and cleanup issues.
At the same time, many people officers encounter are struggling with:
- Addiction
- Mental illness
- Poverty
- Or lack of housing options
Leaving police balancing enforcement with attempts to connect people to shelters, hospitals, treatment programs, or outreach services whenever possible.
