Carson man wanted in California chase

A Carson City fugitive wanted in connection with a series of forged checks is now being sought by Placer County police in California following a car chase last week in which he allegedly rammed a patrol vehicle then fled, leaving behind a stolen Carson jeep.

According to Placer County Sheriff's Detective Rick Harroun, an officer came upon Daniel Mondragon and a 25-year-old Reno woman parked outside a closed business on April 16 in Colfax.

The woman gave the officer her identification, while Mondragon allegedly lied about his name.

Harroun said as the deputy was checking the registration on the vehicle Mondragon sped off, slamming into the patrol vehicle. The officer was not harmed.

After a short chase, Mondragon and the woman, identified as Jennifer Penman allegedly stopped the car on a dirt road and ran off on foot, leaving behind personal items and stolen property from Carson City auto burglaries.

"They fled got down the road a little bit, ditched the vehicle and took off in the weeds and we lost them," he said.

The vehicle returned as stolen from Carson City earlier in the day.

Officers discovered that Mondragon allegedly tried to cash a stolen check sometime between the vehicle theft and police chase.

Surveillance footage from a Wells Fargo bank in Auburn shows Mondragon attempting to cash the check which is marked in the memo, "landscaping," said Harroun.

When the bank clerk took too long to check on Mondragon's identification, he apparently became nervous and fled, leaving behind his identification, Harroun said.

Carson City Sheriff's Detective Craig Lowe said it's likely Mondragon and Penman h have returned to Carson City. They have connections to Carson, Reno, Yerington, Mason Valley and Sacramento.

A felony warrant was issued in December in Carson City Justice Court for Mondragon's arrest on a charge obtaining money under false pretenses.

Mondragon has a criminal history of fraud and burglary and, Carson Sheriff's Detective Bob Motamenpour said, he is a known drug user and is considered armed and dangerous.

"If someone knows where he is and doesn't call police, they are keeping his location and can be charged with harboring - a felony," he said.

Anyone with information on either Mondragon's or Penman's whereabouts is asked to call the Carson City Sheriff's Department at 887-2020 ext. 41403.

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.