Jenipher Lewis held in jail over viral Albuquerque road rage case

Jenipher Lewis will remain jailed in an Albuquerque road rage case, a judge ruled Tuesday. She faces charges following an attack with her two children inside the vehicle.

A witness recorded the encounter last week at Wyoming and Constitution in Albuquerque. Lewis allegedly stepped out of her vehicle. She broke the back window of a white pickup truck with a baseball bat.

Police said the pickup driver quickly accelerated toward Lewis. That driver rammed the back of her car. Both drivers fled the scene.

Officers located Lewis and discovered her two children in the backseat. Lewis told police the conflict began when the truck pulled out of a parking lot. Court documents state she grabbed the bat when the driver laughed at her.

Judge Bruce Fox stated that Lewis cannot control her actions and poses a public danger.

“It appears the defendant has a temper, and whether she sees red or I’m not sure what the circumstances are, but she has, particularly in this case, demonstrated that there is a concern she cannot control herself if she gets upset regardless of whether if she’s driving with her kids in the car or any other circumstances,” said Judge Fox.

Judges in New Mexico evaluate public safety during pretrial detention hearings. These hearings determine whether a defendant stays in custody before trial. Albuquerque courts handle these custody reviews on a regular basis.

Lewis faces multiple charges, including child abuse and reckless driving. Police are still searching for the driver of the white pickup truck. The truck did not have a license plate.