PAYETTE, ID - Brent Sharrai, 40, from Payette, Idaho was arrested and is likely facing federal charges after police responded to a suspicious person report from a witness who observed a man near a parked railroad car attempting to light an object on fire.
According to a statement released by the Payette Police Department (PPD), officers followed a trail of footprints left in the snow toward the parked train car and located “a suspected undetonated Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D.).” The officers then followed additional tracks to a nearby camp trailer.
“The suspect (identified as 40-year-old Payette resident, Brent Sharrai) attempted to flee from the camp trailer on foot but surrendered to Payette Police Officers after a short foot pursuit,” the statement revealed.
“Sharrai was taken into custody at that time on outstanding Payette County warrants. He was later booked into the Payette County Jail on those warrants, as well as additional charges for possession of a destructive device (felony), possession of a controlled substance (felony), possession of paraphernalia (misdemeanor) and resisting and obstructing officers.”
The bomb squad of nearby Nampa, ID was called in to detonate the I.E.D. in order to clear the Union Pacific rail corridor which was shut down for over five hours. “The Nampa Bomb Squad utilized their specialized robot to remove the IED from the train car and later detonated the device to render it safe.” The departments coordinated with The Union Pacific Police Department as well as the FBI.
As reported by CBS2, the Nampa PD Bomb squad utilized a specialized bomb disposal robot to remove the device from the train car and safely detonate it away from the tracks. Chief of Police Gary A. Marshall wrote that a search warrant was obtained and executed by his officers on Sharrai’s camp trailer, where devices similar to the I.E.D. were found with controlled substances and paraphernalia.
According to a police affidavit per KIVI-TV, Sharrai claimed to police that he had made his own fireworks for a New Year's celebration "to get a bigger boom."
Marshall told reporters that his department feels the case is in no way connected to a terrorist plot and was an isolated incident.
"Obviously, everybody's on high alert," Marshall said, "Something of that nature is located, you never know what the intention is. Obviously, further into the investigation, we're able to determine that this was not that severe of an event, but we have to handle it as though it is until we know otherwise."
According to the news outlet, federal charges against Sharrai are pending the outcome of the FBI investigation. His family said that there is somewhat of an "overreaction" to the incident because people are on high alert following the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents this week.
Sharrai's ex-girlfriend said of the explosive devices, "You can get them at any fireworks stand." His family also said that he is basically a "child in an adult body," and that he's diagnosed with several behavioral issues.
Sharrai did not show up to his arraingment hearing.
According to a statement released by the Payette Police Department (PPD), officers followed a trail of footprints left in the snow toward the parked train car and located “a suspected undetonated Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D.).” The officers then followed additional tracks to a nearby camp trailer.
“The suspect (identified as 40-year-old Payette resident, Brent Sharrai) attempted to flee from the camp trailer on foot but surrendered to Payette Police Officers after a short foot pursuit,” the statement revealed.
“Sharrai was taken into custody at that time on outstanding Payette County warrants. He was later booked into the Payette County Jail on those warrants, as well as additional charges for possession of a destructive device (felony), possession of a controlled substance (felony), possession of paraphernalia (misdemeanor) and resisting and obstructing officers.”
🚨 JUST IN: A man has been arrested after he planted an IED on a train car in Payette, Idaho
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 3, 2025
40-year-old Brent Sharrai was arrested and charged with Possession of a Destructive Device after he was caught attempting to light the the IED
The Nampa Bomb Squad was called in and… pic.twitter.com/NRLAc9e3BH
The bomb squad of nearby Nampa, ID was called in to detonate the I.E.D. in order to clear the Union Pacific rail corridor which was shut down for over five hours. “The Nampa Bomb Squad utilized their specialized robot to remove the IED from the train car and later detonated the device to render it safe.” The departments coordinated with The Union Pacific Police Department as well as the FBI.
As reported by CBS2, the Nampa PD Bomb squad utilized a specialized bomb disposal robot to remove the device from the train car and safely detonate it away from the tracks. Chief of Police Gary A. Marshall wrote that a search warrant was obtained and executed by his officers on Sharrai’s camp trailer, where devices similar to the I.E.D. were found with controlled substances and paraphernalia.
According to a police affidavit per KIVI-TV, Sharrai claimed to police that he had made his own fireworks for a New Year's celebration "to get a bigger boom."
Marshall told reporters that his department feels the case is in no way connected to a terrorist plot and was an isolated incident.
"Obviously, everybody's on high alert," Marshall said, "Something of that nature is located, you never know what the intention is. Obviously, further into the investigation, we're able to determine that this was not that severe of an event, but we have to handle it as though it is until we know otherwise."
According to the news outlet, federal charges against Sharrai are pending the outcome of the FBI investigation. His family said that there is somewhat of an "overreaction" to the incident because people are on high alert following the Las Vegas and New Orleans incidents this week.
Sharrai's ex-girlfriend said of the explosive devices, "You can get them at any fireworks stand." His family also said that he is basically a "child in an adult body," and that he's diagnosed with several behavioral issues.
Sharrai did not show up to his arraingment hearing.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2025-01-05T19:25-0500 | Comment by: Larry
Anyone caught doing something like this should automatically be institutionalized, in one form or another. Why hasn't something been done about him sooner?
2025-01-06T01:21-0500 | Comment by: Carlton
Democrat
2025-01-06T15:58-0500 | Comment by: James
OBVIOUSLY these pigs are making something out of what amounts to NOTHING .... And " Union Pacific pigs " now ???? REALLY ????? MORE jurisdiction-less thugs to be gunned down for violating our RIGHTS .... The f.b.i. and ALL these pigs will " RAILROAD " this poor guy into a federal rap, with years of penalties and fines, as useless ,pukes glorify themselves as if they saved the United States for their jew masters ........