Road Rage Incident Leads to Crash

Chase Smotherman, 29, and Destiny Sisneros 17, were both arrested after a road rage incident that lead to shots being fired and a vehicle crash after the incident began on I-40. 

Earlier this morning at about 1:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a traffic crash in the area of 8th St and Central Ave.  Officers arrived and located two vehicles that had collided within the traffic circle in this area.  The driver of one of the vehicles was identified as Chase Smotherman and his passenger Destiny Sisneros.  The other vehicle only had a passenger identified as Kenneth Martinez who advised his driver ran to hide.  The driver was identified to be Martinez's son, Jesus Sanchez. Martinez was extremely intoxicated and told police they were traveling on I-40 when Smotherman struck their vehicle and continued on.  Martinez told his son to follow the vehicle that lead to aggressive driving on Central Ave which was also reported by witnesses in the area.  According to Martinez, Smotherman and Martinez were involved in a traffic collision at 8th and Central Ave at which time he said Smotherman pulled a handgun pointed it towards him and fired rounds.  Martinez was not hit and told police this is when his son ran away from the crash to hide from the shots. 

Witnesses reported Smotherman fired the shots in the air prior to the crash at a different location after driving up on a curb and onto the sidewalk.  Smotherman and Martinez engaged into a physical fight then both got back into their vehicles and left the area. 

During the course of the officers investigation, they located in Smotherman's vehicle for him to be in possession of a large amount of Marijuana and Heroin.  Smotherman originally told police he lost control of his vehicle in the circle and crashed into the other vehicle.  He later admitted to the road rage incident.  His passenger, Destiny, was found to be in possession of the handgun which was determined to be a stolen gun. 

Martinez refused to press charges for the Aggravated Assault.  Smotherman was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Receiving/Transferring a Stolen Firearm, Tampering with Evidence, Conspiracy to commit a Felony, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Felon in possession of a Firearm. 

Sisneros was charged with Receiving/Transferring a Stolen Firearm, Tampering with Evidence, Conspiracy to commit a Felony and was booked into the Juvenile Detention Center. 

Based on conflicting stories and the amount of activity that occurred during this call, officers did an excellent job with determining what occurred and were able to get two dangerous people off the streets. 

We have had numerous inquiries if this incident was the cause of the camera being shut off at 7th and Central Ave.  As this incident did occur in the area, the Albuquerque Police Department is unable to factually say that this incident was the primary cause for the owner to shut down the camera as we have not had a reason to contact the owner.  As far as the department has been able to determine this was an isolated incident that did happen in the area of the camera however has not been determine to be due to the camera being in this area.