A Columbia Falls man denied committing five felonies and one misdemeanor in an allegedly drug-fueled crime spree that ended in a police chase.

Jasper Marten Howell, 39, pleaded not guilty Sept. 22 to felony counts of theft and criminal possession with intent to distribute, two counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of eluding a police officer.

According to court documents, Howell was caught in July with stolen property including weed eaters, flat screen TVs, outboard motors, an air compressor and other items reported stolen between Jan. 1 and July 18.

At the time, Howell allegedly admitted trafficking methamphetamine and heroin into the Flathead Valley multiple times over the past two years. He was arrested twice in August, allegedly for having drugs and drug-dealing paraphernalia in his possession.

He has been in the Flathead County Detention Center since Aug. 30 after a Kalispell Police officer tried to stop him because he was allegedly traveling on an all-terrain vehicle at a high rate of speed with no headlights.

Howell led officers on a 40-mph chase and ran through five stop signs before he crashed the vehicle down an embankment. Howell was thrown from the ATV and allegedly fled on foot before he was apprehended.

When he was searched, officers allegedly found a bag of marijuana plus suspected heroin.

Howell’s bail is set at $20,000. His jury trial is set for March 2017.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.