Escaped work crew inmate caught after brief chase near Petaluma

A helicopter and a police dog were called in to help with the search Thursday.|

A Sonoma County jail inmate escaped Thursday from a work crew near Petaluma but was caught after a short chase, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

Danniel Carlson, 19, ran from the area of Pepper and Mecham roads around 12:30 p.m., Lt. Greg Miller said.

The North County Detention facility inmate was serving time for possession of stolen property, Miller said.

Deputies surrounded a field where Carlson hid, summoning the sheriff’s Henry 1 helicopter and a police dog unit, Miller said.

Carlson was caught about 30 minutes later after deputies found him hiding under a culvert, Miller said.

He faces additional charges and a transfer to the higher-security main jail, Miller said.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.

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