A tense standoff on Carlyle Avenue ended in chaos Monday evening when Cody Soard, a man with a history of violent run-ins with the law, was taken down by law enforcement after allegedly barricading himself inside a trailer and threatening to shoot officers.
The drama unfolded just after 5:30 p.m. when the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office alerted Portsmouth Police that Soard had holed up in a trailer and was making threats. With two deputies already on scene and another en route, they called for backup from nearby agencies, including the New Boston Police Department.
One Portsmouth officer immediately jumped in to block traffic and protect bystanders from the danger zone. Officers at the scene soon learned Soard had allegedly vowed to shoot any law enforcement that came near. Using a loudspeaker, officers tried to talk him out — but Soard wasn’t having it. He kept yelling from inside the trailer and refused to come out.
Cops noted there was only one door to the trailer, and they kept a close watch. Adding to the tension, Soard’s mother told officers her son had asked her to bring him a weapon — but she wasn’t sure if he was already armed.
Sheriff David Thoroughman personally responded to the scene. After Soard ignored repeated commands, officers used less-lethal impact rounds to subdue him. Porter Township EMS, already staged nearby, quickly moved in and transported Soard to the hospital. He was reportedly combative even after being taken down, and deputies had to ride along to keep things under control.
If Soard’s name rings a bell, it should. Just six months ago, SOMC Security called 911 after Soard showed up to the hospital on a bicycle with a knife and threatened staff. He fought arrest that time, too. Police impounded the knife, charged him with multiple offenses, but in the end, he only served 15 days for resisting arrest after a plea deal.
Now he’s back behind bars — and facing a fresh stack of charges: assault, obstructing official business, aggravated menacing, and resisting arrest. He was booked into the Scioto County Jail just before midnight Monday. His next date with justice is set for June 3rd in Portsmouth Municipal Court.
Soard’s criminal history reads like a rap sheet greatest hits: menacing, burglary, vandalism, felonious assault, criminal damaging, and disorderly conduct.
This latest incident has residents shaken and law enforcement on high alert. But thanks to a coordinated response and quick action, another potentially deadly night ended without loss of life.
What’s “Less Lethal” Anyway?
When police say they used “less lethal impact rounds,” they’re talking about weapons designed to subdue a suspect without killing them — but don’t get it twisted, these things still pack a punch.
Think of bean bag rounds, rubber bullets, or foam-tipped projectiles. They’re fired from special shotguns or launchers and can cause serious pain, bruises, and even broken bones — but they’re meant to take down dangerous suspects without using deadly force.
In this case, officers used less-lethal rounds to drop Cody Soard without firing live ammo, ending the standoff before anyone got seriously hurt.
