BRISTOL VIRGINIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

10/20/2026

Teen Driver Safety Week!

New driver in the family? Set the rules before they take the keys 🔑:
✅ No phones
✅ No distractions
✅ Don’t speed
✅ Limit passengers
✅ Buckle up

Your teen is watching how you drive. Set the right example — and the rules for the road. 🚘🔑

10/18/2026

Teen Driver Safety Week!

Rookie behind the wheel? Drive smart! Stay alert, don’t speed, limit passengers, and always buckle up.

10/16/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bristol Virginia Police Investigation Results in Arrest and 42 Additional Warrants

BRISTOL, VA – October 15, 2026 - An investigation by the Bristol Virginia Police Department that began in August has resulted in the arrest of a Johnson City, Tennessee, man and the subsequent issuance of 42 additional warrants for Possession of Child Po*******hy.

On August 14, 2026, the department received information from a member of Predator Poachers, a private group that uses online decoys to identify suspected child exploitation. The individual provided detectives with text message conversations allegedly exchanged between the suspect and a person he
believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Detectives began investigating and developed evidence indicating that the suspect had attempted to arrange an in-person meeting for sexual purposes.

Billy Collins, age 55, of Johnson City, Tennessee, was arrested that day and charged with one count of Use of Communications Systems to Facilitate Certain Offenses Involving Children. Following his arrest, Collins was transported to the Abingdon facility of the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority,
where he was held without bond.

As part of the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Collins’ cellphone. On October 12, 2026, a review of data recovered through a forensic examination identified 24 images and 18 videos believed to contain child sexual abuse material.

On October 13, 2026, detectives obtained 42 additional warrants against Collins for Possession of Child Po*******hy in connection with the material recovered from his phone. Collins has been served with the additional warrants at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail and held without bond.

10/16/2026

Teen Driver Safety Week is October 18-24, 2026.

Your freedom comes with responsibility. Drive like your life, and your friends’ lives, depend on it — because they do!

One moment behind the wheel can change everything. Kennedy Bingham ...

10/15/2026

We’re still collecting candy for our Trunk or Treat!

If you’d like to help, donations of factory-sealed candy can be dropped off at the Bristol Virginia Police Department.

Thank you for helping us make this a fun night for the kids! 🎃🍬

🎃🍬 We need your help!

Our annual Trunk or Treat is Thursday, October 29, and this year we’re planning for it to be bigger and better than ever!

Help us make sure we have plenty of candy for everyone by donating new, unopened, individually wrapped candy. Every bag helps!

📍 Donations can be dropped off at the Bristol Virginia Police Department, 551 Scott Street.

Thank you for helping us make this another great community event! 👻🍫

10/09/2026

Thank you to Rural King Supply in Bristol for donating 25 cases of water to the Bristol Virginia Police Department.

Your generosity helps take care of our officers as they work to take care of our community.

We’re grateful for your support and for thinking of the men and women who serve Bristol each day.

10/02/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bristol VA Police Provide Update on Russell Street Shooting

BRISTOL, VA – October 1, 2026 - The Bristol Virginia Police Department is providing an update
regarding the shooting that occurred on Russell Street at approximately 12:30 PM on October 1, 2026.

As a result of the investigation, Hunter Gautier, age 21, of Bristol, Virginia, has been arrested and
charged with two counts of Aggravated Malicious Wounding and two counts of Discharge of a Fi***rm
in a Public Place.

Gautier was transported to the Abingdon Facility of the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority,
where he is being held without bond.

Both victims remain hospitalized at area hospitals and are listed in stable condition.

This remains an active investigation. No additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting or a possible motive is being released at this time.

Additional information will be released as appropriate as the investigation continues.

10/01/2026

NEWS RELEASE - 10/01/2026 - This is to confirm the Bristol VA Police Department is on the scene of a shooting that occurred on Russell Street at approximately 12:30 PM today. There are two (2) victims and a suspect is in custody. There is no known danger to the public at this time. The department will provide further information when it is available.

09/28/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BVPD Investigation Leads to Recovery of Stolen Property from Multiple Cases

BRISTOL, VA – September 28, 2026 - The Bristol Virginia Police Department has recovered a significant amount of stolen property and filed multiple charges following an investigation involving several breaking and entering and larceny cases.

On September 12, 2026, Bristol Virginia Police Department Patrol Officers responded to a residence for a report of a possible breaking and entering. Officers searched the area and located a male subject hiding inside a garage. The subject, identified as Corey Wimmer, age 33, of Bristol, Virginia, was taken into custody without incident.

Officers also confirmed that Wimmer had outstanding warrants from the Virginia State Police and Tazewell County. Wimmer was charged with trespassing and served with the outstanding warrants. He was transported to the Abingdon facility of the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, where he was held without bond.

On September 13, 2026, BVPD Patrol Officers responded to another residence for a reported breaking and entering involving a large amount of stolen property. During the investigation, the victim advised officers that he had observed some of his stolen property in plain view at another residence approximately one street away.

The tenant of that property gave officers consent to search the property. BVPD Detectives responded and continued the investigation. Through their investigation at that location and additional locations identified during the case, officers and detectives were able to recover property connected to additional open cases.

Recovered property included four electric bicycles, power tools, miscellaneous jewelry, w**d eaters, lawnmower, a metal detector, a silver kitchen set, a Chevrolet truck, and other miscellaneous property.

The additional cases involved incidents occurring between August 5 and September 12, 2026. One of those incidents, involving the unauthorized use of a vehicle, occurred prior to Wimmer’s arrest but was not reported to BVPD until September 16, 2026. Wimmer was identified as the suspect in that case.

As a result of the investigations, Wimmer has been charged in the City of Bristol, Virginia, with the following offenses:

Misdemeanor Charges:
• Petit Larceny
• Intentional Damage
• Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle
• Trespassing

Felony Charges:
• Breaking and Entering of a House
• Breaking and Entering of a Building
• Grand Larceny – 3 counts

Wimmer was also charged with Failure to Appear for Arraignment.

Wimmer remains held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to review these cases.

09/25/2026

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

The Bristol Virginia Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured below. This individual is a potential suspect in the theft of a purse from the Bristol Virginia Public Library on September 18, 2026.

If you recognize this individual or have any information that may assist with the investigation, please contact the Bristol Virginia Police Department at 276-645-7400.

Please share to help us identify this individual.