Holliday ISD cleared, one arrested after bomb threat

The Holliday ISD campus was cleared after a bomb threat was made by around noon., Thursday, Aug. 10. Corby Wayne Sissom, 56, has been charged with Terroristic Threat and Retaliation. There is believed to be no threat to the school.

According to Archer County Sheriff Jack Curd, the Holliday Police Department received information about a possible bomb threat around noon and the decision was made shortly after to evacuate the school district.

Curd said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Denton County bomb squad helped clear all the campuses, parking lots and outbuildings. Other agencies assisting included the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, Homeland Security, Texas Game Wardens and Archer County Constables. The Texas Department of Transportation, Holliday Volunteer Fire Department and Bowman Volunteer Fire Department assisted in closing roads throughout Holliday and on TX-Loop 368.

The Sheriff said law enforcement was able to arrest Sissom at a residence in Holliday. The suspect was then taken to be interviewed by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the ATF. Curd added the ATF confiscated legal materials which could have been used from the residence.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit for the terroristic threat charge, a Holliday ISD principal called Holliday Police Chief Kayla Stevens and said that an individual had received a text from Sissom directing a bomb threat against the school. After confirming the threat with the reportee, Stevens tried unsuccessfully to get a hold of Sissom.

The warrant states Stevens knew Sissom had an ATF license that allowed him access to explosives, and he had recently been involved in criminal activity resulting in pending felony charges which led her to believe the threat to be credible.

Stevens then called the Archer County Sheriff’s Office and began evacuating all Holliday ISD campuses and facilities. After law enforcement agencies arrived, the individual who originally received the text message arrived on scene and advised they had gotten the text message the day before.

The individual advised they did not believe Sissom to be a threat as long as he was not left unattended and believed Sissom was using the message to distract law enforcement from his current activities. The individual then sent a screenshot of the text to Stevens which stated for someone to call in a bomb threat at the school.

According to the retaliation arrest warrant affidavit, Stevens received a call at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, from someone who said they had observed Sissom make the statement that ‘Stevens has it out for me’ and that he has a high-powered rifle and is a pretty good shot and if Stevens were to step on his property, he ‘might have to put one between her eyes.’

Stevens is currently investigating Sissom for a separate case which she believed to be the basis for the threat. She has also had interactions with Sissom in the past which resulted in Sissom’s arrest and charges being brought on him. Stevens stated she believed the reporting party and the threat to be credible.

Curd said a precautionary increased presence of law enforcement will be at the school for the remainder of the week, meet the teacher and the first day of school next week.

Meet the teacher was scheduled for the evening of Aug. 10, but was cancelled as the investigation and search continued. Holliday ISD will release more information on the event at a later time.

Both charges against Sissom are Third-Degree Felonies and his bond has been set at a combined $195,000. Further charges are expected to come for SIssom who is booked into the Archer County Jail.