Idaho
Woman crashed ambulance into building housing DHS, prosecutors say
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An Idaho woman was arrested after prosecutors said she stole an ambulance and crashed it into a building that houses U.S. Department of Homeland Security offices, later pouring gasoline inside the property.
Sarah Elizabeth George, 43, is accused of stealing a Canyon County Paramedics ambulance from St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Center in Meridian, a suburb of Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, according to police. George then allegedly drove into a nearby office building and poured gasoline in and around the vehicle before fleeing on foot.
Investigators believe that George intentionally crashed into the building and attempted to “ignite the ambulance and potentially the building,” the Meridian Police Department said in a statement on Feb. 24. No injuries were reported in the incident.
During a news conference, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said George was arrested on Monday, Feb. 23, after a five-day investigation. The Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the investigation.
“It was good old-fashioned police work that got us to where we are at tonight,” Basterrechea said on Feb. 23. “These investigators literally went door-to-door, looking for possible camera footage, possible witnesses and other information and evidence.”
George has been charged with attempted destruction of federal property by fire and malicious destruction of property used or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, according to police. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Police noted that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be filed in the case.
Court records: Suspect’s social media contained ‘adverse political positions against ICE/DHS’
A person, later identified as George, allegedly stole a parked Canyon County Paramedics ambulance outside the St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Center in Meridian at around 11 p.m. local time on Feb. 18, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.
Shortly after, surveillance footage showed George had briefly stopped at a nearby parking lot and loaded the ambulance with at least two gas jugs and a plastic bag, court documents state. George then drove the ambulance through the south entrance doors of an office building and began pouring gasoline around the lobby floor.
When officers from the Meridian Police Department arrived at the scene, George fled from the building on foot, according to court documents.
Investigators later learned that the U.S. General Services Administration had leased offices in the building for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to court documents. The Idaho Capital Sun reported that the building is owned by St. Luke’s Health System, the largest health system in Idaho, and the space was being used as an administrative office for Homeland Security.
Surveillance footage also showed George purchasing gasoline at a local gas station, and investigators were able to identify George after reviewing the footage and receipts from stores in the area, according to court documents.
“Additionally, law enforcement found what appears to be George’s Facebook page,” court documents state. “It apparently contains adverse political positions against ICE/DHS.”
George’s Facebook page included a post that states, “If it can be destroyed by the truth then it should be destroyed; it was built in lies anyways,” according to court documents. The post also included an image depicting the White House in flames and smoke.