On August 4, 2024 at about 11 p.m., an Ada County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle near the area of Fox Ridge Dr. and Silver Fox Dr. in Boise. The vehicle initially appeared to pull over, then accelerated, then pulled over. When deputies attempted to contact the occupants, the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued the vehicle, which stopped in front of a nearby residence.
A female passenger, later identified as Jennifer Sparling, exited the vehicle and ran away. She attempted to jump a nearby fence and was unsuccessful. Deputies then took Jennifer into custody.
The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Mark Howerton, did not comply with deputies’ commands to exit the vehicle. When deputies removed him from the vehicle, he continued to resist arrest by pulling away from deputies. Mark was then taken into custody. Mark was booked into the Ada County Jail for felony Fleeing and Eluding, misdemeanor Resisting and Obstructing and misdemeanor Driving Without Privileges.
Jennifer was booked into the Ada County Jail for misdemeanor Resisting and Obstructing and misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, Jennifer had outstanding warrants for felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, felony Parole Violation, misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence (2nd Offense) and misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Jennifer was identified as a suspect in an aggravated assault in Boise from the night prior, where she allegedly drove her vehicle toward a family member. Jennifer was also booked into the Ada County Jail on a felony Aggravated Assault charge.