A weeklong federal surge netted violent fugitives, sex offenders, and a school employee now facing child rape charges — here’s what happened.
Federal marshals flooded Yakima County for six straight days — and when the dust settled, 28 people were in custody, including a school employee now charged with raping a child.
The U.S. Marshals Service wrapped up Operation Stampede: Yakima Surge on May 8, calling it a success after federal, state, local, and tribal agencies joined forces across Washington’s Eastern District. The operation targeted violent fugitives, gang members, repeat offenders, and registered sex offenders.
“Bringing violent offenders into court allows the criminal justice system to work for everyone — and especially for the victims.”
— U.S. Marshal Craig Thayer
But one arrest stood out above all others.
Tyrone Sissom — identified by the Marshals Service as a former teacher in the West Valley School District and, at the time of his arrest, an active teacher at Evergreen Middle School — was taken into custody on charges of third-degree child rape and two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. No further details were released about the alleged victim or the timeline of events.
The charges sent shockwaves through the Yakima community, raising immediate questions about how long Sissom had been in contact with the child and what, if anything, school officials knew.
Beyond those headline cases, the sweep also netted individuals wanted on federal and state warrants spanning assault, firearm offenses, drug crimes, and community custody violations.
Authorities credited the operation’s success to intelligence sharing between multiple agencies — a coordination model the Marshals Service said it will continue to deploy in high-crime areas across the Eastern District of Washington.
The operation comes at a time when Yakima County has faced persistent challenges with gang activity and drug trafficking, particularly involving fentanyl and methamphetamine flowing through the region.
