Son of DOA Wants Autopsy, Coroner Refuses

Son of DOA Wants Autopsy, Coroner Refuses

The son of a woman found dead in her apartment, demanded an autopsy but the coroner’s office refused. Plus three separate calls involving bad behavior by kids under 10. We break down the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing.

You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide

Police gave chase to a suspicious man running down an alley with a backpack just before 1:30 am. Three units took part in the chase. He initially tried to hide behind a wall at the Fifth Third Bank drive-thru but police chased him across gay and detained him on 8th Street. Once they got him in custody, it turned out he had an open warrant. Police took him to the station.

Suspicious Activity

● Police responded to a report of a suspicious woman standing on the lot of Dennys Auto Sales just after 2 pm. She told them she was waiting on someone to rent her a room at the Holiday Inn. Officers told her to leave the area. The same woman returned to a bench at the Holiday Inn at 3 am. An officer asked her to leave.
● Just before 3 am, a caller reported two people lying on the ground near vehicles at Boost Mobile on the Scioto Trail. The subjects appeared to be after catalytic converters. Officers followed a suspicious vehicle to Kinneys Land and Sunrise and discovered adults and juveniles in the vehicle. The driver had a suspended license, so police arranged for the vehicle to be towed and the passengers transported home. Police issued traffic citations.

Cheater Tries Crawling Through Window

A 17th Street woman contacted police at 2:26 am to report her cheating husband was trying to get into the house through a window. Police found him at Vinton and Hutchins. Turns out he recently got the boot for cheating on his missus. She chose not to file charges, but the police advised her to call them if she needs assistance.

Under The Influence

● Just before 8 am, officers responded to a report of a man overdosing in a silver car in front of the Saint Charles Place Apartments. Portsmouth Ambulance provided assistance.
● At 8:07, police discovered two people either passed out or sleeping in a vehicle in the 1900 block of Kendall. Officers said there was a syringe in plain view and the car was parked in handicapped parking. They had a handicapped placard but it belonged to a younger sibling and there was no handicapped person in the car. The driver of the vehicle has no license. Police managed to locate his mother and find a licensed driver. The vehicle was moved.
● A caller reported a man passed out in a vehicle in the 1600 block of Robinson Avenue at 8:13 am. Police took the man into custody and arranged for the vehicle to be towed.
● Another report of an overdose at 12:04 pm. Police responded to Tracy Park and discovered a homeless woman in a van. They advised her not to drive and a response team from a treatment facility arrived to speak to the woman.
● Just after 8 pm, a caller reported a woman passed out inside a van on Jefferson Street. The woman told police she was fine, just homeless and sleeping.
● A railroad reported an apparently high man rolling around under the Young Street Overpass at 10:19 pm. Medics from the Portsmouth Fire Department revived him with 2 doses of Narcan and transported him to the hospital.

Assaulted by a 5th Grader

● A caller contacted police at 11:44 am to report she was assaulted by a 5th grader at East Portsmouth Elementary. The parents responded to the school and officers agreed to let them handle the discipline.
● Officers received another report involving young kids just after 8. A Thomas Avenue caller reported an 8-year-old was assaulted by another child. Police said this was not a police matter, just kids acting up. They advised the parents to handle it.

Hey, That’s My Stuff

A woman contacted police at noon to say she thought her stolen rings were inside a Gallia Street pawn shop. The pawnshop management said they require a police report to turn over merchandise and that the alleged victim had not contacted them.

Son Demands Autopsy, Coroner Says Not Needed

A sudden death on 2nd Street caused a disagreement between the son of a deceased woman and the coroner. The woman was discovered unresponsive on the floor of her 2nd Street apartment just before 4 pm.
Police contacted the Coroner’s Office and Deputy Coroner Hoschstetler responded. No sign of foul play was observed, and the coroner ordered the body released to the family.

When officers contacted the deceased’s son in North Carolina, he told them his mother was a drug addict and demanded an autopsy. Police spoke with the coroner who said that due to the victim’s age and no signs of foul play, one was not needed. The son was quite angry over the decision.

Officers helped the son find a local funeral home to take the body.

Kids Refuse To Leave Pizza Place

A group of five kids under the age of 10 refused to leave Gatti’s Pizza on 11th Street just after 5 pm. A neighbor happened to be in the restaurant and called the parents of two of the boys. They gave her permission to take her home. Police said they would follow up with the parents.