Tips lead to arrest in case of road rage bat beating
Bystanders helped stop two women from beating a driver with baseball bats in Lauderdale Lakes and citizens called in tips to law enforcement about one of the women accused in the assault, leading to her arrest, the Broward Sheriff ’s Office said.
Samantha Denis, 22, faces a charge of aggravated battery a deadly weapon after the March 22 assault that left Mikaela Elena Barboza, 26, of Plantation with a broken nose, concussion and numerous staples in her skull, authorities said Thursday. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Julie Sam, 27, who deputies say also participated in the attack.
The violence began after Barboza exchanged words with Sam and Denis while driving, according to an arrest report.
In separate cars, Sam and Denis chased Barboza to the South Lakes Shopping Center at 3714 W. Oakland Park Blvd. in Lauderdale Lakes where they all parked, the report said.
What happened next was rewith corded on multiple cellphones: Barboza warned the women that police had been called. Sam and Dennis each got a bat out of their cars -- a small one for Denis, a larger one for Sam — and began striking Barboza, the report said.
Barboza told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that she had cut off one of the drivers while traveling along State Road 7.
Denis later told a deputy she struck Barboza because she was angry, and alleged that Barboza had made racial slurs toward her, the report said.
During a bond court hearing Tuesday, prosecutor Eric Linder said that a week before the alleged road-rage assault, Denis had been freed on bond after her arrest on charges of domestic battery, simple battery and criminal mischief.
At that time, Broward County Judge Kim Theresa Mollica ordered her to not have any weapons, Linder said.
“This incident was captured on video, and there were also independent witnesses,” Linder told the judge about the latest case. “They intervened and prevented Ms. Denis and her co-defendant from attacking the alleged victim further.
“I would also note, your honor, it’s been documented that there was a child in the passenger seat of a vehicle that witnessed this entire incident,” Linder said.
Multiple citizens contacted Broward County Crime Stoppers to identify Denis, the report said.
Mollica revoked Denis’ bond in the prior case and for the latest arrest, set bail at $25,000 and ordered her to not contact Barboza. If Denis is released, she must submit to GPS monitoring and cannot have weapons.
Assistant Public Defender Hector Romero said Denis is homeless and works at a job that pays $11 per hour.
Sam is still at large and was last seen driving a rented maroon 2018 Kia Sorrento SUV with a Georgia tag, RKR 4868. Her most recent known address was in Pompano Beach, the sheriff ’s office said.
“Sam had no problem being seen while she was attacking the victim, but now she seems to be hiding from detectives,” Broward Sheriff’s spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright said Thursday. “Detectives advise not to approach Sam. Instead, tell them where she is or report her whereabouts, anonymously, through Broward Crime Stoppers.”
Broward County Crime Stoppers can be reached at 954-493-8477. The organization accepts anonymous tips and pays up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.