Suspicious Van Found, Case Closed Without Arrest

Officers have located the van associated with potential suspicious activity in the area over the weekend and early Monday and police are indicating that the investigation will end without an arrest after the van was being used for legitimate business purposes.

The issued a media advisory Monday morning, warning that a van with Maryland license plates had been seen in several neighborhoods. The first reported “sighting” was in the Crest and Fairway Road area on Friday afternoon.

“The operator of the van stopped several times, asking children about the amount of kids who lived in the area,” Sgt. Lowell DePalma said on Monday. “He was only there a short time on Friday afternoon.”

The van was seen again in the same area on Saturday, this time with a woman passenger, and was also seen Monday morning outside the on Pleasant Street. The van did not stay in any of the areas long enough for police to question the driver.

Concerned over the safety of children in the area, the schools district issued an automated phone message on Monday after the van was seen again.

But Bristol police said when the van was eventually located and pulled over, the driver was able to calmly express why he had been in the area and asking questions. The van was initially pulled over in the area of New Street and King Street in Bristol around 6:30 p.m.

No arrest was made and the van was allowed to leave following the traffic stop, police said.

“They had legitimate business reasons for being here,” dispatchers said.

DePalma said the guy was a union representative who had meetings at three homes in the Crest Road area.