PAYETTE, Idaho — A Payette man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly planting an explosive device on a railroad car.
According to the Payette Police Department, officers responded to North 8th Street around 6 p.m. on New Year’s Day after receiving a report of a suspicious man attempting to light something on fire near a parked railroad car. The suspect was later identified as 40-year-old Brent Sharrai.
Police tracked footprints in the snow from the scene and discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) near the railroad car. Officers continued following the footprints to a trailer in the 600 block of North 8th Street.
When officers approached, Sharrai reportedly tried to flee on foot but surrendered after a short pursuit. He was taken into custody on outstanding Payette County warrants. He was later booked into the Payette County Jail on additional charges, including possession of a destructive device (felony), possession of a controlled substance (felony), possession of paraphernalia (misdemeanor), and resisting and obstructing officers.
Due to the danger posed by the IED, a bomb squad was called to the scene. Union Pacific was notified, and all trains scheduled to pass through the area were put on standby for approximately five hours until the scene was declared safe. An FBI agent also responded to assist with the investigation.
Police said a robot was used to safely remove the IED from the train car, and the device was later detonated.
A search warrant was obtained for the trailer where Sharrai had been staying. Inside, officers reportedly found items similar to those used in the device on the train car, as well as controlled substances and paraphernalia.
Sharrai remains in custody at the Payette County Jail. Federal charges for possession and manufacturing of a destructive device are pending further investigation by the FBI.
