A mom reported alleged inappropriate touching at a local daycare and a lab worker claims a mistaken police stop was the result of racial profiling. We break down the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing.
Mom Reports Inappropriate Touching at Daycare
A woman contacted police just before 6 pm to report that a teacher at the Shawnee State Children’s Learning Center touched her child inappropriately.
PPD contacted officers from the campus police and informed them of the situation as it would be their jurisdiction. They forwarded all information to the campus police.
Wayne Avenue Dog Attack
At 5:52 pm, a caller reported a Wayne Avenue resident’s dog attacked her dog and then turned around and attacked its owner. She did not want to file a report. Police advised her to contact them if the dog was spotted off-leash again.
Snack Cake Thief Caught In Act
The Speedway on Gallia reported a man on crutches stole some Little Debbie Cakes. Officers caught up with him in front of Aldi.
They discovered he had an open warrant through the Sheriff’s Office and from Licking County. However, Licking County was not accepting people with domestic relations warrants at the time.
Not A Sweet Thing To Do
A 14th Street caller reported that someone put sugar in his gas tank shortly before 6:25 pm. He named a suspect and police took information for a report.
Lab Corp Worker Claim Racial Profiling
A Lab Corp employee claimed racial profiling after being briefly detained by Portsmouth Police. The incident started around 8 pm when an employee of the Counseling Center on Court Street reported someone taking something from the urine screen lockbox.
Police followed the suspects to the Smith’s Pharmacy parking lot to question them. Officers said the man involved immediately suggested the incident was racially motivated and the woman began to scream at them. Officers said both subjects refused to identify themselves. Police detained the woman because they said she was uncooperative.
It turned out both people were employees of Lab Corp. who were at the Counseling Center to collect samples. Officers spoke with the Counseling Center and with Lab Corp and suggested they establish better lines of communication to prevent mix-ups like this from happening again.
Suspicious Activity
Just after 9 pm, an Offnere Street caller reported a man in the alley shining a flashlight and acting suspiciously. Officers spoke to the man who said he was just walking around. Police advised him to stay off the property.