Idaho Police Seek Suspect in Stolen Ambulance Incident
Idaho State Police are actively trying to identify and find a man suspected of stealing an ambulance. He allegedly drove it into a building that houses Homeland Security offices and attempted to ignite the vehicle.
The series of events began at St. Luke’s Hospital, where the individual took the ambulance and crashed it into the lobby of a building in Meridian around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Meridian is just outside Boise.
“I think it’s clear that had the suspect succeeded, this building would have been engulfed in flames, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk,” noted Meridian Police Chief Tracy Bustelechea.
Reports indicate that after the crash, the suspect retrieved a canister containing an accelerant, which he then poured inside the ambulance.
“It appears the suspect couldn’t ignite the accelerant before being startled by law enforcement,” Bustelechea added.
Described as wearing a medical mask, black shirt, and tan pants, the suspect sparked concern due to the incident’s nature. Bustelechea characterized it as a “serious criminal act,” mentioning there’s been criticism of the DHS’s involvement in the area in online discussions.
He also pointed out “totally false” claims circulating on social media suggesting the property damage wasn’t violent.
“This was an act of sheer violence. Without the suspect’s interference, it’s almost certain this building would have caught fire, endangering many,” he emphasized.
Authorities believe the act was intentional, as it seems the suspect prepared the accelerant before abandoning the ambulance. He drove roughly a quarter-mile to the DHS office location.
A Canyon County paramedic issued a statement regarding the occurrence, confirming that no Canyon County paramedics were present in the ambulance during the incident, and noted that there were “no known injuries to the public or first responders related to this situation.”
Bustelechea mentioned that the department is leading the investigation in collaboration with the FBI, DHS, and other agencies.
