Man shoots at Hells Canyon power facilities

On Thursday, June 8, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a man shooting at power generating facilities in the Hells Canyon Corridor.

 At 12:26 a.m. on Friday, June 9, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was advised by Idaho Power security personnel of gunshots at the Brownlee Power Plant. A description of an individual on a motorcycle heading east on Highway 71 was relayed.

 Randy Vail, 58, of Meridian, was later identified as the suspect. 

 He was apprehended without incident and taken into custody near Cambridge through a coordinated effort involving multiple jurisdictions, including Adams, Washington, Baker, and Wallowa counties, according to a WCSO press release issued on Monday.

 There were no injuries reported during the event and no incident-related customer outages, according to a June 9 ACSO press release.

 Law enforcement officials seized multiple firearms. Vail’s actions resulted in damage to Brownlee and Hells Canyon power equipment located at both reservoirs.

 Vail was arraigned in Washington County on Friday, charged with attempt to elude a police officer and possession of bombs or destructive devices, both felonies. Bond was set at $250,000, according to court records.

 Vail was arraigned in Adams County on Monday, charged with malicious injury to property. 

 He was being held at the Washington County jail as of Monday, June 12.

 The investigation is ongoing. The Signal American will provide more details as they become available.