Portsmouth police handled two calls involving public arguments, threats, and one caller who got an unexpected lesson in how free speech works.
Officers were called to Tracy Park around 9:30 p.m. after a woman who had reportedly been causing problems throughout the day was accused of threatening another woman.
According to the police log, the threat involved stabbing someone in the eye with a tampon.
Yes. A tampon.
Police spoke with everyone involved and advised the caller that officers could not make an arrest based only on one person’s word.
The caller then became argumentative with officers, according to the log.
Police dispersed the group and warned them that if they returned, they could be cited.
A few minutes later, officers were called to Wayne Hills after a caller complained that a 13-year-old girl was “running her mouth again.”
The caller was upset that the juvenile had cursed at her and wanted police to go to the girl’s house and tell her parents how to parent their child.
Police advised the caller that they do not do that.
Officers also explained that people, including juveniles, have freedom of speech and the right to be on a public sidewalk.
The caller was not happy with that answer.
The calls are a reminder that police can step in when there are threats, assaults, trespassing, disorderly conduct, or real safety concerns.
But hurt feelings, rude words, bad language, and teenagers being mouthy are not automatically crimes.
Sometimes the law is complicated.
Sometimes it is very simple: being annoying is not the same thing as being arrested.