Staff Report

The Pennington Gap Police Chief is behind bars following a two year investigation, which was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and Firearms and the United States Attorney’s Office. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. Pennington Gap Police Chief Bryan Young was arrested on drug distribution charges.

Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons said because it is a federal investigation, he cannot release specific details of the case. He did confirm that Young was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon at the Lee County Courthouse and that there was a search warrant served at the Pennington Gap Police Department.

Parsons also confirmed that a search warrant was served at the residence of Young in Stickleyville, Va. and at the residence of Steven Fritz in Stickleyville. There was also a search at the Pennington Gap Police Department.

According to Parsons, the searches were conducted simultaneously in a cooperative effort of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Virginia State Police, members of the Southweat Virginia Regional Drug Task Force and officers of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Parsons said Young is being held in federal custody without bond. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are anticipated involving other individuals, according to Parsons.