Libby man accused in police chase sentenced

A Libby man accused of various charges following two alleged high-speed police chases in Libby last fall was recently sentenced.

Izack Thomas Howe, 18, was charged with two felony counts of criminal endangerment along with one felony count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and one misdemeanor count of fleeing from police.

He pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment and received a 4-year deferred sentence from Judge Matt Cuffe. Howe was given credit for serving 181 days in the county jail. He must pay a $500 fine. Howe was freed following his sentencing.

"I apologize to everyone and I have no excuses for the choices I've made," Howe said. 

Cuffe noted it was Howe's first felony case.

According to court documents, county Sheriff's Deputy Andrew Smith was on patrol at about 11:26 p.m. on Sept. 3 at the Town Pump in Libby when he saw a motorcyclist with a passenger on an orange 2003 Kawasaki motorcycle. Deputy Smith performed a license plate check and it was learned the plates belonged to a 1981 red Yamaha motorcycle.

According to Deputy Smith's report, he attempted to stop the vehicle after it pulled out of the parking lot and headed west on E. 9th Street. Smith reported that the motorcyclist looked back at his patrol vehicle then allegedly accelerate away at a high rate of speed. Smith wrote that during the pursuit, the motorcyclist crossed into oncoming traffic, weaved through westbound traffic and used the center lane to pass traffic during the pursuit while reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Smith reported the pursuit continued onto E. 6th St. and through five intersections with stop signs, including California, Mineral and Louisiana avenues (known for having heavier north and southbound traffic).

Deputy Smith then decided to end the pursuit because of safety risks to the driver, who allegedly was not wearing a helmet during the pursuit, and the passenger, who was wearing a helmet, as well as the general motoring public and pedestrians.

Smith then distributed information about the people and motorcycle involved in the alleged chase to local law enforcement.

Then, four days later, in the alleged second pursuit at about 6:28 p.m. on Sept. 7, county Deputy James Derryberry reported he had pulled out of J. Neils Memorial Park and saw a motorcycle headed south on Montana 37. The motorcycle was estimated to be traveling at about 60 MPH in a posted 45 MPH zone. Derryberry reported when he came up behind the motorcycle he was able to identify the vehicle from previous information he had received from the evidence from the dash-cam in Deputy Smith's pursuit.

Derryberry reported he attempted to stop the motorcycle, but it allegedly accelerated and sped across the Kootenai River bridge.

Derryberry then reported that Libby City Police Sgt. Ron Buckner saw the motorcyclist drive in and park behind a house at 129 Kearny Ave. Buckner saw the man get off the motorcycle and remove his helmet. Buckner arrested the man and Derryberry identified the man as Howe from his ID.

When Derryberry searched Howe, he reported finding a prescription bottle inside the defendant's jean jacket. The prescription bottle had no label on it and the deputy where found to have loose pills inside the bottle that where later identified as Hydrocodone Acetaminophen. The pills are a scheduled II controlled substance.

A conviction for possession of dangerous drugs may result in a 5-year term in the Montana State Prison while the fleeing charge carries a maximum 12-month sentence in the county jail.

For criminal endangerment, the maximum sentence is 10 years in the Montana State Prison.