Payette, Idaho – On January 1, 2025, at approximately 1754 hours, Payette Police Department Officers were dispatched to the area of the 600 Block of North 8th Street, regarding a suspicious subject who was observed near a parked railroad car, attempting to light something on fire.
Upon arrival in the area, officers observed fresh footprints in the snow and were able to track them to a train car, where they located a suspected undetonated Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D.). Officers followed the fresh prints in the snow to a camp trailer that was parked near a residence in the 600 Block of N. 8th Street.
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. 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.
Due to the dangers posed by the I.E.D., the Nampa Bomb Squad was requested for assistance in rendering the device safe. Union Pacific was also notified and all trains scheduled to travel through the incident site were put on standby for approximately 5 hours, until the scene was determined to be safe. An agent with the F.B.I. also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.
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.
A search warrant was obtained and executed on the camp trailer Sharrai was in, where items similar to the device found on the train car were located, as well as controlled substances and paraphernalia.
As of this time, Sharrai has been charged with the above-mentioned crimes and is being housed at the Payette County Jail. Federal charges for the possession/manufacturing of a destructive device are pending the F.B.I’s investigation.
Payette Police Department
Chief of Police
Gary A. Marshall
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