A chilling act of deliberate violence unfolded in Meridian, Idaho, last week, culminating in the arrest of 43-year-old Sarah Elizabeth George. Authorities allege she orchestrated a calculated attempt to inflict significant damage – and potentially far worse – upon a federal building housing DHS and ICE offices.
The sequence of events began with the brazen theft of an ambulance from St. Luke’s Hospital. This wasn’t a desperate act for medical aid, but the first step in a meticulously planned assault. The ambulance, investigators say, was quickly transformed into a mobile weapon, loaded with accelerants and driven with intent towards the Portico Building.
Surveillance footage captured the horrifying moment the stolen ambulance crashed through the building’s south entrance. But the impact wasn’t the end of the attack. The suspect allegedly exited the vehicle, carrying gasoline cans, and proceeded to douse the lobby floor, preparing to ignite the structure.
The potential for catastrophe was immense. Had the suspect succeeded in setting the building ablaze, the lives of first responders and those working inside would have been directly threatened. Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating this was unequivocally an act of violence, not simply property damage.
Investigators quickly began piecing together the evidence, a methodical process that led them directly to George. A trail of purchases – gas cans and lighter fluid from a local Walmart – provided a crucial starting point. Security footage showed a woman matching her description making the purchases just hours before the attack.
The investigation extended to a nearby Fred Meyer gas station, where footage revealed the suspect filling gas cans and fueling a Dodge Dakota pickup truck, using a loyalty card registered under her name. This detail, along with DMV records from a recent traffic stop, solidified the connection.
Digital footprints further implicated George. Investigators discovered a Facebook page believed to be hers, containing posts openly critical of ICE and DHS. A particularly unsettling post from the day of the attack read: “If it can be destroyed by the truth then it should be destroyed; it was built in lies anyways.”
A coordinated effort between the Meridian Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led to George’s arrest Monday evening. Agents executed a search warrant at her Boise residence, continuing to gather evidence and unravel the full scope of her intentions.
George now faces federal charges of malicious destruction of government property by fire and malicious destruction of property used in interstate commerce. If convicted, she could face a lengthy prison sentence, a consequence reflecting the severity of the alleged crime and the danger it posed to the community.
