Idaho Police Launch Manhunt After Ambulance Stolen and Crashed into DHS Office Building
Law enforcement authorities in Idaho are intensively searching for a suspect involved in a dramatic incident where an ambulance was stolen from a hospital, covered with an accelerant, and deliberately driven into a building that houses U.S. Department of Homeland Security offices. The event unfolded late Wednesday night in Meridian, a suburb of Boise, sparking a major criminal investigation.
Details of the Incident and Police Response
According to Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea, the suspect targeted an ambulance parked outside St. Luke's hospital at approximately 11:10 p.m. on Wednesday. The individual then drove the vehicle north through a parking lot, retrieved gas cans from nearby vegetation, and poured the accelerant both inside and outside the ambulance. Chief Basterrechea stated that the suspect was unable to ignite the accelerant before being frightened off by responding emergency agencies.
Television broadcasts showed images of shattered glass doors at the entrance to an office building, which is owned by St. Luke's Health System and located in a large business complex known as The Portico, adjacent to the hospital. Other tenants in the Portico North building include health insurance company SelectHealth Inc., St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice, and Quest Diagnostics.
Context and Police Statements on the Seriousness of the Crime
Chief Basterrechea emphasized the gravity of the incident, describing it as "a serious criminal act" and refuting social media comments that downplayed the violence. He asserted, "This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk." The hospital has previously faced criticism for leasing space to the Department of Homeland Security amid the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies, with Basterrechea noting "a lot of rhetoric" on the issue.
The Meridian Police Department is leading the investigation, collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, DHS, and other agencies to apprehend the suspect and assess the full scope of the crime.
