Federal and local authorities in Idaho have finally apprehended the radical suspect accused of attempting a domestic terror attack against a DHS/ICE facility.
The Gateway Pundit reported last week that an anti-ICE agitator stole an ambulance, packed it with gas cans, and rammed the emergency vehicle into a DHS office in Meridian, Idaho.
Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said the suspect stole the ambulance from St. Luke’s Hospital and poured accelerant inside of the vehicle.
“We want to emphasize that this was a serious criminal act,” Police Chief Basterrechea said.
“The theft and destruction of an emergency vehicle not only created a risk to responding personnel, but it also temporarily removed a critical medical resource from the community,” he said.
The police chief said “there has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space at this location.”
“Comments on social media, such as ‘property damage isn’t violence,’ is absolutely false,” he said.
“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,” he added.
According to authorities, 43-year-old Sarah Elizabeth George of Boise was taken into custody Monday evening after Meridian Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at her Boise residence.
Police Chief of Meridian Police Department Tracy Basterrechea:
“Today, I’m glad to announce that we have made an arrest of Sarah Elizabeth George, a 43-year-old female from Boise, Idaho. The Meridian Police Department, along with the local Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, served an arrest warrant on George and executed a search warrant at George’s residence earlier this evening.
Agents and detectives are currently processing the scene at the residence now, collecting evidence. The investigators standing here are responsible for this timely arrest.
The first thing I would like to point out is that the men and women of the Meridian Police Department and the men and women of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI, did an amazing job over the last five days—working long hours and working diligently—to positively identify Ms. George and bring her into custody.”
WATCH:
Breaking: Federal and local authorities have arrested the suspect accused of attempting to carry out an arson terror attack on the DHS/ICE office in Idaho.
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) February 24, 2026
Sarah Elizabeth George, 43, of Boise, allegedly staged gas cans, stole an ambulance, and intentionally crashed through the… pic.twitter.com/zCDK7hZVNd
According to a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Sarah Elizabeth George has been charged with malicious destruction of government property by fire and malicious destruction of property used in interstate commerce.
The affidavit, submitted by FBI Special Agent Daniel Ramirez, outlines a chilling sequence of events that unfolded on the night of February 18, 2026.
Investigators allege that George stole a Canyon County Paramedics ambulance from outside St. Luke’s Hospital in Meridian at approximately 11:00 p.m.
Minutes later, surveillance footage reportedly shows the stolen ambulance crashing through the south entrance doors of the Portico Building at 3330 E. Louise Drive.
The building contains office space leased by the U.S. General Services Administration for DHS and ICE operations.
According to the affidavit, the suspect did not stop at ramming the building. CCTV footage allegedly shows her retrieving gas cans from inside the ambulance and pouring gasoline throughout the lobby floor in what authorities believe was an attempt to ignite the structure.
A Walmart bag containing lighter fluid and two red gasoline jugs were recovered at the scene.
Federal investigators describe a methodical paper trail leading to the suspect’s identification.
Surveillance footage from Walmart shows a woman matching George’s description purchasing gas cans and lighter fluid hours before the attack.
Additional footage from a nearby Fred Meyer gas station reportedly shows the suspect filling gas cans and fueling a Dodge Dakota pickup truck, using a loyalty card in the name “Sarah Elizabeth George.”
Investigators also identified a blue 2005 Dodge Dakota registered to individuals with the same last name and observed similarities between that vehicle and the one captured on security footage.
The affidavit further notes that investigators located a Facebook page believed to belong to George containing posts critical of ICE and DHS.
One post from the morning of February 18 reportedly stated: “If it can be destroyed by the truth then it should be destroyed; it was built in lies anyways.”
After reviewing the Idaho DMV database, authorities discovered that George had been pulled over during a traffic stop just weeks earlier.
Her driver’s license photo matched the suspect.
If convicted on federal arson and terrorism-related charges, Sarah Elizabeth George could spend decades in prison.
