A troubled man was hospitalized twice and arrested twice in one day and an allegedly suicidal man was turned away from the hospital. We break down the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing.
Gunshots Reported on Franklin Avenue
Officers responded to a report of gunshots in the 1800 block of Franklin Avenue at 7:14 pm. Three units were dispatched to investigate.
Police were unable to locate anything suspicious.
Troubled Man Arrested Twice in One Day
A troubled man, who police have daily contact with, had another bad day. The day before he was taken to the hospital twice in 12 hours.
One trip was after he was found half-dressed, bleeding, and screaming in the street and the second was after an overdose in the Post Office.
A witness reported him rolling around on the ground near the ticket booth at Trojan Coliseum. Police took him into custody for the 56th time. He was booked into the Scioto County Jail and then released on his own recognizance.
A few hours later, police responded to a report of him pulling down his pants and yelling on Gallia Street. Officers told him if he didn’t stop acting up, he’d be arrested again.
An hour after that, witnesses reported him screaming and swinging his shirt around on 11th Street. They took him into custody for the second time in one day.
Publisher’s Note: When patients are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, mental health facilities usually won’t take them. At the moment, there aren’t enough facilities to accommodate those in need of emergency mental health treatment. Any assistance our citizens can provide in contacting their representatives is greatly appreciated by law enforcement officials.
Before drafting legislation, our state and federal representatives need to do their research on the issue and talk to those who have knowledge on the subject. Otherwise, you will get what Scioto County has with its numerous non-clinical sober living houses.
The last step is accepting help. No matter how well we may provide inpatient mental health treatment and clinical drug treatment, it ultimately boils down to what the individual decides to do.
Suspicious Activity
At 9:17 pm, witnesses reported a man jumping out in front of vehicles at 2nd and Chillicothe in an attempt to get a ride.
The man told police he was just trying to walk home to Kentucky. He said he was dropped off at the bus stop near the Wellness Center and needed to get the rest of the way home.
Suspicious Activity
SOMC Security contacted police to report that a man who had been released from a treatment room was refusing to leave the hospital. He left before officers arrived.
Just before 9 pm, a witness reported an apparently high man acting up inside Kroger. The man left before the police arrived.
Cry For Help
At 1:50 pm, a 7th Street woman called police for help, started screaming, and the phone disconnected.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the woman had been hit in the head and was dizzy. Medics checked out the woman while officers took a man into custody for domestic violence.
Police took him to the Scioto County Jail.
Out in the Cold
A worried Postal carrier contacted police to report there was a woman with a baby in the 1100 block of Coles Blvd.
She said she had been left there with the child.
Hospital Refuses to Treat Suicidal Man
Just before 3 am, a man contacted police to say he was suicidal and hallucinating, but SOMC had refused to treat him.
Portsmouth Ambulance said they could not transport him anywhere else as other places would do the same.
The medical staff cleared the man who they said comes in quite often for intoxication, but they determined he was fit to leave.
He returned to the hospital half an hour later and attempted to hide in the bathroom. Security escorted him to the bottom of the hill, and he attempted to swing on one of them.
Police caught up with the man on Kinneys Lane and advised him he was barred from the hospital unless he had a medical emergency.
