Missing signature trips up chase case

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque couple accused of taking Bernalillo County deputies on wild chase Wednesday morning faced a judge who was forced to temporarily dismiss some charges Thursday.

It turns out deputies did not sign the criminal complaint against Joshua Benavidez.

So the judge dismissed the charges against him although they will be refiled.

In the case of his alleged accomplice Irene Enriquez, the judge raised bond from $35,500 to $50,000.

Enriquez and Benavidez are accused of taking deputies on a five-mile chase from Rio Bravo Boulevard SW at Second Street to Interstate 25 and Broadway Boulevard SE.

It all started when witnesses saw Enriquez slumped over the wheel and parked on the side of the road.

When deputies went to check on her they say took off and drove southbound in the I-25 northbound lanes. When a deputy deployed spike strips to try to stop her, she kept going.

Benavidez was the passenger in the car.

Deputies say he was eating the marijuana they had in the car and throwing it out the window to try to get rid of it.

His tongue was dark green, and when deputies asked him why he said he was eating salad.

He had seven outstanding warrants.