Local Threatens Van ISD Officials

Last Tuesday a Van Zandt County man walked into the Van ISD Administration Building and threatened school officials, also saying that he was going to damage the school.

James Terry McIlvain, 46, Van was arrested two days later and charged with terroristic threat which is a third degree felony.

Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Scott Shinn set McIlvain’s bond at $1 million.

"On Tuesday, he told school officials that he was going to do damage to the school and then he approached two students and inquired about two school officials," said Smith.

Smith said that he was issued a criminal trespass warning at the discretion of Van ISD and ordered not to return to any school property or athletic events.

"We then decided that we needed to make a proactive arrest of the suspect to help minimize or eliminate any other threats or possible harm that he could do," said Smith.

Thursday night several Van Police Officers, along with Van ISD Chief Donnie Payne, went to a residence on VZCR 1412 outside of Van to locate McIlvain.

He was not at the residence but officers spent several hours tracking him down and located him in Dallas.

"Dallas Police Officers surrounded the residence where McIlvain was staying for the night and then myself and Chief Payne picked him up and brought him back to Van Zandt County," said Smith.

He was transported to the Van Zandt County Justice Center.