PAYETTE, Idaho — The FBI is investigating, and a Payette man is in custody after Payette Police say officers found an "undetonated improvised explosive device (I.E.D)" near a railroad car.
Officers were dispatched to the area of the 600 Block of North 8th Street just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, regarding a suspicious subject. Upon arrival, officers say they observed fresh footprints in the snow and were able to track them to a train car, where they located the I.E.D.
The Payette Police Department says officers followed the prints to a camp trailer parked near a residence in the 600 Block of N. 8th Street. The suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Brent Sharrai, attempted to flee on foot but surrendered after a short pursuit.
Idaho News 6 learned through public court documents that Sharrai told officers on the scene that he was attempting to make fireworks for New Year's Eve but then fell asleep. Detectives also say they found meth and paraphernalia.
Sharrai was booked into the Payette County Jail and charged with possession of a destructive device, possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, and resisting and obstructing officers, according to the Police Department.
Payette Police say assistance was requested from the Nampa Bomb Squad to ensure safe disposal of the device. The Nampa Bomb Squad used a specialized robot to remove the IED from the train car before detonating it in a controlled explosion. An F.B.I agent also responded to assist with the investigation.
Union Pacific was notified and all trains scheduled to travel through the incident site were put on standby for roughly five hours.
Sharrai's arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3 in Payette County .
