Idaho man charged with shooting rifle at two hydroelectric power stations

Also: Idaho man faces federal charges, up to 20 years in prison for shooting at dams (Idaho Statesman)

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Source: Associated Press

Idaho man charged with shooting rifle at two hydroelectric power stations

Updated 7:08 PM EDT, August 8, 2023

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho man has been charged with two counts of destruction of an energy facility after federal prosecutors said he shot a rifle at two hydroelectric power stations and caused damage to both.

Randy Scott Vail, 58, of Meridian, allegedly used the firearm to shoot at the Hells Canyon Dam station and the Brownlee Dam station on June 8 and June 9, according to charging documents.

Owned by Idaho Power Company, the dams produce, transmit, store and distribute electricity to Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The shooting caused over $100,000 in damage, according to an indictment.

Authorities arrested Vail on June 9, following a high-speed chase near Cambridge, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Boise, KTVB reported. Riding on a white sport motorcycle, Vail allegedly went 80 mph in a 25-mph zone as officers pursued him.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/idaho-hydroelectric-indictment-72e35106db7eaa9c5cdfc85e30a8f0d1

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Source: Idaho Statesman

Idaho man faces federal charges, up to 20 years in prison for shooting at dams

Nicole Blanchard
Tue, August 8, 2023 at 5:22 PM EDT·2 min read

A Meridian man who was arrested in June after reportedly shooting at electrical substation equipment at two Idaho dams now faces federal charges over the incidents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Randy Vail, 58, was arrested near Cambridge early on a June morning following reports of an individual on a white motorcycle firing a rifle at power substations at Hell’s Canyon and Brownlee dams.

Washington County sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop Vail, who fit the suspect description. Police said Vail then led the deputies on a high-speed chase on his motorcycle before eventually pulling over.

When deputies made contact with Vail, they found “two tire repair cans that are used to hold compressed air” that smelled of gasoline, court documents said. According to the documents, Vail told the deputies they were gas canisters for the motorcycle.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/idaho-man-faces-federal-charges-212228119.html