Early Thursday evening at Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, a routine sports night turned tense when a police foot chase spilled onto campus and triggered a Code Yellow, briefly locking down athletes, night-school students and staff.
Police say 25-year-old Zachary Brian Sisselberger took off running when officers tried to stop him after responding to a call on nearby Holly Drive. The chase ended on school grounds, where staff and officers moved quickly to restrict movement, secure the area and sort out what exactly had just landed in the middle of their practices and classes.
According to CBS12, officers were called to Holly Drive around 6:07 p.m. on June 25 when they encountered Sisselberger nearby. When he allegedly ran, officers pursued him onto the high school campus. The department says the activity prompted a lockout that temporarily limited movement for athletes, students and staff while officers cleared the scene.
What a Code Yellow Means
As outlined by WPTV, the School District of Palm Beach County uses a Code Yellow when there is law-enforcement activity off campus. It is a modified lockout that keeps classrooms operating but limits movement, in contrast with a Code Red, which signals an imminent on-campus threat.
The district's Student & Family Handbook similarly lists "Code Yellow — Lockout — Limited Movement" and notes that families are to be notified through ParentLink and district communication channels during such incidents.
Campus Response and Charges
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, at 4245 Holly Dr., hosts evening athletics and community classes, which were underway when officers converged on the area, according to the school's website. Authorities say Sisselberger was detained on campus and is facing charges, although officials did not immediately specify the formal counts, per CBS12. Once the scene was secured, police and school staff gave the all-clear and normal activities resumed later that night.
What Comes Next
Investigators are expected to continue reviewing evidence from the scene, and prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges based on what officers collected. The district typically communicates directly with families via ParentLink and official social media channels, and local outlets urge residents to rely on those verified updates rather than unconfirmed posts circulating online, according to WPTV.
