Resident alleges wrongful arrest tied to Amber Alert; requests police investigation and city review

At the Feb. 11 meeting, resident Bethany Gold told Newport News City Council she was detained at gunpoint during an Amber Alert stop in Georgia on April 15, 2023, and later arrested on a parental abduction charge she says was unlawful because she had a court‑ordered custody document in her possession.

Gold said she has been convicted in criminal proceedings but continues to assert that the Newport News Police Department relied on false information and a fraudulent custody order provided to detectives. She said she has submitted documents to Chief Drew, Lieutenant Rogers in Internal Affairs, the City Manager’s office and the Commonwealth’s Attorney but that her requests for investigation have been dismissed or ignored. Gold asked the council where the custody order used to justify her arrest is and requested a formal investigation.

City response: Council directed that if she had copies she could provide them to the city clerk, who would make them part of the record; staff identified the city clerk’s office on the ninth floor as the place to deliver documentation. Council did not take formal action on the complaint during the meeting.

Why it matters: The resident alleged potential misconduct by police in handling an Amber Alert and in verifying custody documents. She asked the city to pursue review of investigative practices and to locate the document she said formed the basis of the arrest. Council accepted an offer to receive her documentation for staff review but did not commit to any specific investigative step during the meeting.