West Portsmouth Standoff – Woman Rescued From Man with Machete
Officers came to the aid of a West Portsmouth woman after a desperate call for help at 7:30 pm. The woman said a man was throwing water around the house in an attempt to electrocute her.
Deputies were familiar with the man, who had a history of mental health problems and had previously assaulted deputies.
When officers arrived at the home, the man was armed with a machete and a club. The woman was in a back bedroom, and officers assisted her in getting out the window.
The man began to trash the home, and officers paged the fire department to shut down the roads near the home. The fire department aided police in popping the door open and a probation officer and other six additional units surrounded the perimeter.
Officers entered the home to take custody of the man. After medics cleared him, deputies took him to the Scioto County Jail.
Couple in Mental Health Crisis Keep Officers Busy
A Portsmouth couple coping with mental health issues kept officers pretty busy.
At 9:30 am, the husband told officers his wife had left the area in a Cadillac with a loaded gun and had threatened to harm herself.
Officers searched for the vehicle, but could not locate it.
At 11:17 am, they were summoned back to the home to check on a couple arguing. When officers arrived, the man said his wife had left, but did not have a weapon this time and didn’t make any threatening statements.
AT 1:30 pm, the man called 911 and the non-emergency line to say he was drinking, listening to music, and feeling suicidal.
Officers contacted a veteran’s crisis line, but they were unable to reach him by home and said no one would be able to check on the man until after the weekend.
Half an hour later, officers spoke with the man, who said he was more concerned for his wife than himself and did not plan to harm himself.
Shoplifter Busted at Speedway
Just after 2 pm, an employee of Speedway contacted PPD and asked an officer to stand by while they approached a shoplifter caught in the act.
Police took the man into custody.
At 11 pm, Speedway employees reported a shirtless man in the parking lot pestering customers for money. Officers spoke to the man and barred him from the property.
