Man reportedly takes ambulance and crashes into Idaho DHS office

Ambulance Theft and Arson Attempt Under Investigation in Idaho

Authorities at both state and federal levels are looking into an incident where a suspect reportedly stole an ambulance and crashed it into a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Idaho, allegedly with multiple gas canisters involved. It appears this was intended as an arson attack.

The ambulance was taken from St. Luke’s West Hospital just after 11 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterechea mentioned that the unidentified suspect maneuvered the ambulance through a parking area and picked up a gas can that had been hidden in nearby plants.

The ambulance was then driven straight into the North Portico building, which accommodates DHS offices.

Federal authorities reported that the suspect was seen throwing a Molotov cocktail at the federal property.

Investigators suspect that the individual spread accelerant both inside and outside the ambulance. However, the attempt to ignite it was unsuccessful, and the suspect fled when responding agencies arrived, as noted by Basterechea.

Basterechea emphasized the seriousness of this criminal act, stating, “The theft and vandalism of emergency vehicles not only poses a risk to responding personnel but also temporarily deprives the community of crucial medical resources.”

Basterechea also added, “There’s a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space here.” He stressed that claims like “property damage is not violence” are fundamentally misguided. “This was an act of pure violence, and had it not been for the suspect’s interference, there is no doubt that this building would have been set on fire, endangering the lives of first responders and others.”

While officials have yet to identify the suspect, they assured the public that there’s no current threat to the community at large.

The Meridian Police Department is spearheading the investigation alongside the FBI, ATF, DHS, Idaho State Police, and several local law enforcement agencies.

“Under no circumstances will information be released that could hinder the investigation,” Basterechea stated, underscoring the commitment to ensuring that the investigation is thorough and that those responsible are held accountable.