BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

08/28/2026

Community helping community! 🧶💙

We had the opportunity yesterday to spend some time with a great group of ladies at Leisure Park Towers who regularly get together to crochet, visit and enjoy each other’s company.

Recently, they decided they wanted to use their time and talents to do something special for those in need in our community. They have spent countless hours, along with their own money, crocheting toboggans with love and care for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Rather than simply placing the toboggans out for anyone to take, they reached out to the Bristol Virginia Police Department and asked if our officers would help distribute them directly to people we encounter who truly need them. We are honored to help them do just that.

Thank you to these ladies for their generosity, their hard work and, most importantly, their heart for others. This is what community is all about—people looking for ways to take care of one another. 💙

08/28/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bristol Virginia Police Department Partners with MADD for “Saturation Saturday” to Prevent
Impaired Driving

BRISTOL, VA – August 26, 2026 - On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the Bristol Virginia Police
Department will join Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and law enforcement agencies across
Virginia and the nation for “Saturation Saturday,” an initiative focused on preventing impaired driving
ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

The coordinated effort is being conducted in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign and is designed to increase impaireddriving enforcement during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.

As part of Saturation Saturday, the Bristol Virginia Police Department will have additional officers
working specifically to conduct increased traffic enforcement throughout the city, with an emphasis on identifying and removing impaired drivers from our roadways.

“Our goal with this detail is simple, to keep our roadways safe and prevent a tragedy before it happens,” said Darrell Dickenson, Public Information Officer. “If you plan to drink, make a plan before you ever leave home. Have a designated driver, use a rideshare service, or find another safe way home. There is never a reason to drive impaired.”

The Bristol Virginia Police Department reminds everyone that impaired driving is preventable. Drivers are encouraged to make responsible decisions, watch out for one another, and never allow someone who is impaired to get behind the wheel.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

About MADD

Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end
impaired driving. MADD works alongside law enforcement agencies across the country to prevent
impaired driving, support victims and survivors, and make communities and roadways safer.

08/26/2026

Tonight, during The City of Bristol, Virginia Council meeting, Chief D. Byron Ashbrook II and Major Darryl Milligan had the honor of recognizing seven members of the Bristol Virginia Police Department who were recently promoted.

Please join us in congratulating:

Patrol Division
• Captain Chris Whiteaker
• Lieutenant Tyler Cross
• Lieutenant Mark Edwards
• Sergeant Dillion Dye

Community Service Division
• Lieutenant Katie Milligan

Criminal Investigations Division
• Sergeant Justin Masuhr

Warrants Unit
• Sergeant Alex Erickson

These seven officers have demonstrated the leadership, dedication, professionalism, and commitment to service necessary to take on greater responsibilities within our department. Each has earned the opportunity to lead in their new role, and we are proud to see them take this next step in their careers.

Promotions are about more than a new rank. They represent increased responsibility to our officers, our department, and most importantly, the community we serve. We look forward to the leadership each of these individuals will bring to their respective divisions and units as they help shape the future of the Bristol Virginia Police Department.

We would also like to thank the Bristol Virginia City Council for allowing us the opportunity to recognize these seven officers during tonight’s meeting. We greatly appreciate City Council’s continued support of our officers and the Bristol Virginia Police Department.

Congratulations to Captain Whiteaker, Lieutenants Cross, Edwards and Milligan, and Sergeants Masuhr, Erickson and Dye on your well-earned promotions!

08/23/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BVPD Responds to Fatal Shooting; Suspect in Custody

BRISTOL, VA – August 23, 2026 - At approximately 2:40 AM this morning, the Bristol Virginia
Police Department received a call regarding a man with a gun at the Extended Stay America Suites on
Salem Drive.

Officers responded to the area, and while attempting to locate the suspect, they discovered two individuals deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.

While officers were in the parking lot, multiple shots were fired from a ground-floor room toward the
officers. A Bristol Virginia Police Officer returned fire as officers moved to cover. No indication that the
suspect was struck by the officer's gunfire.

Due to the circumstances, additional tactical resources were requested. The Bristol Virginia Police
Department SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded, along with the Washington County
Sheriff's Office SRT, Virginia State Police SWAT Team, and Bristol Tennessee Police Department
Bomb Squad.

At approximately 9:04 AM, this morning, the suspect was taken into custody.

Antonio A. Megginson, 47, has been arrested and is currently charged with one count of Felony
Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer. Additional charges are expected upon the completion of the ongoing investigation. Following his arrest, Megginson was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation.

The Virginia State Police will be taking the lead on the investigation, with investigators from the Bristol
Virginia Police Department assisting. Because this is now an active Virginia State Police investigation,
please contact the Virginia State Police Public Information Office for any additional investigative
details.

We want to thank all of the assisting agencies that responded and provided resources during this
incident. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Bristol Virginia Fire Department and Bristol
Life Saving Crew for staging personnel and resources throughout the incident, ready to respond and provide assistance whenever needed. Their preparedness and partnership were invaluable during this response.

08/20/2026

Scam warning issued by the City of Bristol Virginia Circuit Court Clerk!

Please note:  Juror Questionnaires for 2027 have been mailed. A summons for jury duty will always come via the mail or personal service, not a phone call. If you have any questions about the legitimacy of your jury summons, please contact the Clerk's Office at 276-645-7321, Monday through Friday, 8...

08/18/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Narcotics Investigation Results in Two Arrests and Significant Drug Seizure

BRISTOL, VA – August 18, 2026 - On July 28, 2026, an ongoing narcotics investigation conducted by the Bristol Virginia Police Department resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of a significant quantity of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl.

During the investigation, detectives developed information indicating the suspects had traveled out of state and were returning to the Bristol area with a large quantity of illegal narcotics. Based on information obtained during the investigation, detectives secured a search warrant for the vehicle and its occupants.

During the early morning hours of July 28, detectives, assisted by the Bristol Tennessee Police Department and Virginia State Police, located the vehicle identified during the investigation and maintained surveillance as it traveled into Virginia. Upon entering the Commonwealth, law enforcement officers executed the search warrant, taking the occupants into custody without incident.

A search of the vehicle pursuant to the warrant resulted in the discovery of four large bags containing approximately 4 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, along with a plastic bag containing approximately 2 oz of white powdery substance suspected to be fentanyl.

Kaleb Canter, age 22, of Bristol, Virginia, and Juliana Creed, age 22, of Bristol, Tennessee, were arrested and charged with:

• Felony Transport into the Commonwealth with Intent to Sell or Distribute One Ounce or More of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
• Felony Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance
• Felony Sell, Give, or Distribute a Controlled Substance Classified in Schedule I or II
• Felony Transport into the Commonwealth with Intent to Sell or Distribute One Ounce or More of a Schedule I or II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)

Both were transported to the Abingdon Facility of the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, where they are being held without bond.

The Bristol Virginia Police Department extends its appreciation to the Bristol Tennessee Police Department and Virginia State Police for their assistance and cooperation during this investigation.

08/17/2026

⚠️ WEATHER ALERT ⚠️

We have received reports of water covering some roadways and traffic signals being out due to the weather.

Please use caution if you are traveling, avoid flooded roadways, and treat intersections with non-working traffic signals as four-way stops.

Stay safe and allow extra time for travel.

08/14/2026

Three Officers. Three Fathers. One Legacy of Service.

This photo, believed to be from around 1975, captures officers working the scene of an armed robbery at the Shell kiosk at W. State Street and Peters Street.

But what makes this photograph especially interesting isn’t just the police history it captured, it’s the legacy that followed.

Pictured left to right:

👮 Captain Andrew Kristofek I — father of retired Captain Andrew Kristofek II
👮 Officer Eugene McCoy — father of Lieutenant Mike McCoy
👮 Sgt. William Crawford — father of Captain Steve Crawford

Three officers who once worked the same shift, never knowing that decades later their sons would follow in their footsteps and serve the same community.

Some traditions are passed down. So is the calling to serve.

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bristol Virginia Police Department Prevents Scam, Recovers More Than $153,000 Before It Reached Criminals

BRISTOL, VA – August 11, 2026 – The Bristol Virginia Police Department is highlighting the successful recovery of more than $153,000 in an attempted scam case and urging citizens to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated financial fraud schemes.

On August 8, 2026, Bristol Virginia Central Dispatch received a report regarding a suspected scam involving fraudulent text messages appearing to originate from Wells Fargo. The victim was falsely led to believe there were issues involving financial accounts and unauthorized charges that required immediate action. As part of the scheme, the scammers convinced the victim to obtain a cashier's check and send it to an address in New York City.

Believing the claims to be legitimate, the victim obtained a cashier's check in the amount of $153,860.80 and shipped it overnight through FedEx.

Once the incident was reported, personnel with Bristol Virginia Central Dispatch and the Bristol Virginia Police Department immediately began working to locate the shipment and prevent its delivery. Through coordinated efforts involving Dispatcher Galliher, Dispatcher Boardwine, Officer Foster, Sgt. Cumbow, Lt. Bostic, and cooperating FedEx personnel, the package was successfully identified, intercepted, and recovered before it reached the scammers. The cashier's check was subsequently returned to the victim.

The Bristol Virginia Police Department commends Dispatcher Galliher, Dispatcher Boardwine, Officer Foster, Sgt. Cumbow, and Lt. Bostic for their professionalism, initiative, and teamwork during this incident. Their swift actions and commitment to protecting the community prevented what could have been a devastating financial loss and resulted in the recovery of more than $153,000.

"This case serves as a powerful reminder that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to exploit unsuspecting citizens, particularly older adults," said Chief D. Byron Ashbrook. “Because of the outstanding teamwork, dedication, and quick thinking displayed by our dispatchers and officers, more than $153,000 was recovered before it could be lost to criminals. We encourage everyone to slow down, verify information independently, and contact law enforcement or their financial institution whenever something seems suspicious."

BVPD Warns the Public: Recognize the Signs of a Scam

This incident is an important reminder that scammers can be convincing and often create a sense of urgency or fear to pressure victims into acting before they have time to verify what they are being told.

The Bristol Virginia Police Department encourages residents to remember these precautions:

• Do not trust an unexpected text, email, or phone call simply because it appears to come from your bank or another legitimate company.
• Never send money, cashier’s checks, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other forms of payment based solely on instructions received through an unsolicited call, text, or email.
• Do not use phone numbers or links provided in a suspicious message. Contact your financial institution directly using a verified number, such as the number on the back of your bank card.
• Be suspicious of anyone who tells you that you must act immediately to protect your money, prevent an account from being closed, resolve fraudulent charges, or avoid some other consequence.
• Talk to someone you trust before transferring or sending a large amount of money. A second set of eyes may recognize warning signs that are difficult to see when someone is being pressured.
• If you believe you have already sent money or a package to a scammer, contact your financial institution, shipping company, and law enforcement immediately. Acting quickly may provide an opportunity to stop or recover the funds.

Financial scams continue to cause significant losses throughout the region. According to information documented by the department, citizens in Bristol and surrounding communities have reportedly lost more than $500,000 to similar scams during the past three years, and once money reaches scammers, recovery can be extremely difficult or impossible.

This case demonstrates why quickly reporting suspected fraud is so important. It also highlights the dedication of Bristol Virginia Police Department officers and dispatchers who went beyond simply documenting the incident and worked together to prevent the victim's money from being permanently lost.

If something does not seem right, stop before sending money. Verify the request independently and contact law enforcement if you believe you are being targeted by a scam.