PELION, S.C. — A woman was arrested after calling in a false bomb threat to Forts Pond Elementary School.
Felissa Connelley was arrested and charged with threatening the use of weapons of mass destruction on January 31.
Connelley was arrested at the Masters Inn on Commerce Drive in Cayce and transported to the Lexington County Detention Center without incident and was released on a $10,000 bond.
According to the Pelion Police Department, on December 13, 2019, an unknown female called stated that “there is a bomb in the school.” The phrase was repeated twice to the school employee who took the call.
Fort Pond Elementary was safely evacuated of all students and faculty and three other schools were placed on lock down as a precautionary measure.
The State Law Enforcement Division responded to the scene and utilized bomb detecting dogs to clear the school but no devices were found.
According to the investigation, the call was made from a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) line using a phone app. Several search warrants for electronic records were conducted and the evidence showed that the call was made by Felissa Connelley of Pelion.
Dr. Greg Little, superintendent of Lexington County School District One, responded to the arrest.
“We are grateful to Pelion Chief of Police Mike Crider, his officers and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for today’s arrest. We work closely with our law enforcement partners and are grateful that they make the safety and security of all students and staff their priority...No one should be allowed to frighten 552 elementary school students having a normal school day and their parents with a threat. Although we placed all the Pelion schools on lockout and evacuated and relocated Forts Pond Elementary students, the Pelion parents and their children were champions throughout the day.”