A 43-year-old Boise woman has been arrested on federal charges after authorities say she stole an ambulance and drove it into a Meridian, Idaho, building that houses Department of Homeland Security offices in what investigators believe was an attempted arson attack.

Sarah Elizabeth George was taken into custody on Monday (February 23) after Meridian Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) served an arrest warrant and executed a search warrant at her Boise home. The case began on Wednesday (February 18), when a Canyon County Paramedics ambulance was stolen from outside St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center at around 11 p.m.

According to a federal criminal complaint, George allegedly stole the ambulance while a crew was transporting a patient inside. Before driving it into the Portico North building off Eagle Road in Meridian, investigators say she retrieved gasoline cans that had been staged in nearby vegetation. She then allegedly poured accelerant both inside the building's lobby and around the outside of the ambulance before fleeing on foot as officers arrived on scene.

Authorities say George was unable to ignite a fire before she was "scared off by responding agencies," according to Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.

"The suspect took that ambulance and drove it into the Portico North building, where they had also staged gasoline and poured gasoline inside of the ambulance as well as on the floor, outside of the ambulance, in what we believe was an attempt to burn the building," Basterrechea explained.

The Portico North building, which is owned by St. Luke's Health System, includes office space leased by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Investigators say surveillance footage was key to building their case. Cameras at a Meridian Walmart captured George allegedly purchasing two red gasoline cans and lighter fluid at a self-checkout register at 9:17 p.m. on the night of the attack. Later that evening, footage from a nearby Fred Meyer gas station allegedly shows her filling those cans with fuel. A loyalty card used during the purchase was registered in her name, according to the affidavit.

Investigators also tied George to a blue Dodge Dakota pickup truck seen leaving the area after the crash. The truck matched a vehicle registered to members of her family, and a traffic stop on Wednesday (February 6) had captured her driving the same model of truck, according to court documents.

"This type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Meridian," the chief added. "This conduct is unacceptable. It will be investigated, and it will be charged to the fullest extent of the law."

George faces two federal charges: malicious destruction of government property by fire and malicious destruction of property used in or affecting interstate commerce by fire. Each charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years, along with potential fines. Authorities say additional charges are possible as the investigation remains active.

The attack on the Portico North building comes days after a separate building in Boise, also rented by ICE and DHS, was vandalized early Saturday (February 21), with windows broken and spray-painted, according to Boise police.

Podcasts