Portsmouth Police and Scioto County Sheriff’s Deputies spent part of the week mediating teen troubles — one sparked by online harassment, the other by a phone full of questionable photos. Both cases highlight what parents are up against in the age of social media.
📱 Online Threats From “A Boy in Tennessee”
A worried mom called 911 after her 15-year-old daughter began getting threatening messages online.
- The harasser was reportedly a 15-year-old boy from Tennessee, who’d been messaging her daughter through Snapchat and text.
- The messages included slurs, name-calling, and threats.
- Mom told police she just wanted the incident documented, but officers also discussed ways to protect the teen’s phone and social media accounts.
👉 Officers advised the family to:
- 🚫 Block and report the sender on all platforms.
- 📸 Screenshot messages and threats for police or school officials.
- 🧠 Limit contact and privacy settings to known friends only.
Even when the harasser is out of state, police say it’s still important to report and document — digital threats can cross borders fast.
😡 Teen Meltdown Over Phone Photos
Not long after, Scioto County Deputies were called to help when another teen became combative after adults discovered photos on her phone that caused concern.
- The girl reportedly lashed out when confronted.
- Deputies contacted Juvenile Court, and it was decided she’d stay with her grandmother for a cooling-off period.
💡 What Parents Can Do
Between social media, privacy, and digital temptations, raising teens in 2025 isn’t for the faint of heart. Police recommend:
🧩 Stay involved — know who your kids are talking to online.
👀 Check devices regularly and set limits.
📞 Don’t hesitate to call police if threats or harassment cross the line.
❤️ Model calm when addressing what’s on their phones — you want communication, not chaos.