Probation violations by a suspect in a dangerous police chase in Nampa raise questions

NAMPA, Idaho – Public documents show that Tanner Howe, the suspect in a police pursuit that resulted in the death of Nampa Police K9 Riddick, violated his probation twice in the weeks leading up to the incident.

• Despite failing drug tests on September 5 and 18, Howe was not taken into custody.
• According to IDOC, parolees will be offered treatment if they “proactively communicate with their parole officers.”
• Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff expressed frustration with Howe's early release and said he “should have stayed in the Department of Corrections,” Police Chief Huff told Idaho News 6.
• Huff's concerns were shared by other law enforcement agencies in the Treasure Valley who continue to deal with repeat offenders on parole in the community.

(Below is the transcript of the broadcast story)

Could a police pursuit last month in Nampa have been prevented?

The suspect the police were pursuing was on probation, and we now know that Tanner Howe had already violated his probation twice in the two weeks prior to the pursuit. Although Howe was not in the car at the time, the pursuit ended in a rollover accident and the death of Nampa Police K9 Riddick.

According to new documents obtained by Idaho News 6, Howe admitted to using drugs in early September and failed drug tests on September 5 and 18. The terms of his probation clearly prohibit the use of controlled substances other than those required by law.

“Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but I can tell you now, it was a bad release. He should have stayed in the correctional facility. Some of his records indicate that he was released at the end of July 2024. There were multiple violations of his probation,” said Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff.

Howe was sentenced to serve until 2026, but was released in July after completing rehabilitation measures in prison. Although his release is lawful, Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff and his department are frustrated as repeat offenders impact the Treasure Valley community.

“Basically, he committed at least two probation violations in a two-month period that, in my opinion, should have brought him back into the system because he was not a productive member of the community,” he tells Huff.

Chief Huff says this is not an isolated incident. He tells me that in the last two months alone, Nampa officials have encountered over a dozen parolees with crimes including drunk driving, aggravated domestic violence and child endangerment.

“However, I can tell you that this is not an isolated incident. We frequently interact with probation and parole officers, as do other law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Idaho. It's frustrating for us and our law enforcement officers that we continue to deal with these people…it doesn't appear like they're being taken back into custody, if at all, or soon enough,” Huff said.

I asked IDOC about the policy for parole violations and they told me after a failed drug test that if the parolee has proactively communicated with their parole officer, an appropriate response would be to first attempt to meaningfully engage that person in treatment . The documents show Howe was ordered to begin treatment on Sept. 18.

It's an issue that impacts law enforcement throughout the Treasure Valley. Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh expresses similar sentiments, telling me that in July his officers were involved in a chase against a suspect who had a lengthy criminal record and was out on parole. He says the suspect “should have served his sentence as an inmate. Had he not been released before the end of his sentence, this incident would not have happened.”

While Idaho law enforcement awaits answers, the focus remains on protecting the community and preventing repeat offenders from causing further harm.

“Hopefully we can begin further discussions with the Pardon and Parole Board. I wouldn't be doing my job if I just sat back and said, “Well, that just went through the system.” Maybe get everyone in the same room, at the same table, and think about what we can do differently. “How can we help you as law enforcement and how can you help us as the Pardon and Parole Board?” said Chief Huff.