Arrested: Brian Rodriguez, 58, Boise
Charges: Unlawful possession of destructive devices or bombs (F)
Arrested: Nikolas Hill, 50, New Plymouth
Charges: Unlawful possession of destructive devices or bombs (F)
On February 15, 2025, Boise Police responded to a home on S. Beechwood Drive for a report of what appeared to be a pipe bomb in a home. After a brief initial investigation, officers cleared everyone out of the home and called the BPD Bomb Squad. Neighbors were advised to shelter in place, and officers set up a perimeter around the house. Members of the BPD Bomb Squad responded and, after an investigation, determined that two devices in the home were viable improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that had the potential to detonate and cause serious bodily injury or death. Utilizing trained tactics and specialized equipment, bomb technicians successfully rendered the devices safe and collected them as evidence.
"Thanks to the expertise and training of our Bomb Squad, we were able to safely neutralize both devices, protecting the residents -- including children, their neighbors, and the surrounding community," said BPD Bomb Squad and Property Crimes Sgt. Ryan Thueson. "The quick response and thorough evaluation ensured that no one was harmed by these dangerous explosives."
During the course of an investigation, evidence showed that Nikolas Hill made at least one of the devices and took it to Brian Rodriguez’s home on Beechwood for a past Fourth of July celebration. Evidence also showed that when first approached by police, Rodriquez recklessly handled one of the devices by shaking it and dropping it less than three feet from a police officer.
Boise Police Bomb Squad Detectives completed their investigation and forwarded the report to the Ada County Prosecutors Office, which issued a warrant for the suspects’ arrest. On March 31, 2025, officers arrested Nikolas Hill and booked him into the Ada County Jail on the listed charges. Officers arrested Brian Rodriquez on a warrant on April 1, 2025, and he was also booked into the Ada County Jail on the listed charges.
The Boise Police Department reminds community members to report any suspicious activity or potential threats to law enforcement immediately.