Idaho woman arrested for stealing ambulance and driving into building leased by DHS
An idaho woman, 43-year-old Sarah Elizabeth George of Boise, was arrested after allegedly stealing an ambulance and driving it into a building leased by the Department of Homeland Security in Meridian. Law enforcement say the ambulance was stolen from St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center around 11:10 p.m., and about an hour and a half later the driver allegedly drove into the DHS-leased office at the hospital complex and tried to ignite the vehicle with an accelerant before fleeing. A five-day, cross-agency investigation by the Meridian Police Department, the ATF, and the FBI led to George’s identification and arrest after a search of her residence. She faces charges of attempted destruction of federal property by fire and malicious destruction of property used in or affecting interstate commerce by fire, with possible additional charges anticipated; each carries a potential 5 to 20-year prison term and/or fines. Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea credited the collaboration and technology-driven work, noting there is no disclosed motive and that such conduct will not be tolerated.
Idaho woman arrested for stealing ambulance and driving into building leased by DHS
A 43-year-old woman from Boise, Idaho, was arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing an ambulance and crashing it into a building owned by a hospital that was leasing office space to the Department of Homeland Security. The ambulance theft and crash occurred last week.
Sarah Elizabeth George was arrested on Monday after the Meridian Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the FBI served a search warrant at her residence shortly before 5 p.m., Meridian Police Department Chief Tracy Basterrechea announced in a press conference on Monday night.
“Today, I am glad to announce that we have made an arrest of Sarah Elizabeth George, a 43-year-old female of Boise, Idaho,” said Basterrechea. “The Meridian Police Department, along with the local Federal Bureau of Investigation, the local bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, served an arrest warrant on George and executed a search warrant at George’s residence earlier this evening.”
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, law enforcement officers responded to calls of a stolen ambulance at St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center at 11:10 p.m. local time. Shortly thereafter, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the suspect reportedly drove the ambulance into the office building that DHS is leasing from the hospital, and then tried to light the ambulance on fire by pouring “gasoline or another accelerant” before fleeing.
Before today’s update by Basterrechea, the identity and status of the investigation were unknown.
Basterrechea said the combination of local and federal law enforcement officers “did an amazing job over the last five days working long hours, working diligently to positively identify Ms. George and bring her into custody.”
“Really, it was good, old-fashioned police work that got us to where we are at tonight,” he added. “These investigators literally went door to door, looking for possible camera footage, possible witnesses, and other information and evidence…”
“This, coupled with their knowledge of technology, helped to identify George as our suspect,” he said.
George is currently charged with “attempted destruction of federal property by fire” and “malicious destruction of property used in or affecting interstate commerce by fire,” said Basterrechea.
AMBULANCE STOLEN AND DRIVEN INTO DHS OFFICE IN IDAHO
“However, there is more than likely going to be other charges forthcoming as this investigation is far from finished,” he added.
Both current charges carry a penalty of 5 to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both, Basterrechea said.
He also said that there would not be any speculation revealed about the motive, but emphasized that “this type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Meridian.”
“This conduct is unacceptable,” he said. “It will be investigated, and it will be charged to the fullest extent of the law,” Basterreachea said.
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