COVELO – A Covelo man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly attempted to hit a tribal police officer with his vehicle and then led police on a chase.

Joseph Mondragon, 64, was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call concerning the possible kidnapping of a female juvenile in the Covelo area, Smallcomb said.

Mondragon was reported to have forced an 11-year-old girl into his pickup near the intersection of Barnes Lane and Highway 162, according to the report.

Approximately 10 minutes after receiving the 911 call, Round Valley Tribal Police located Mondragon and his vehicle near Shady Lane in Covelo. Smallcomb said tribal police exited their patrol vehicle and attempted to get Mondragon to stop by standing in the roadway.

Mondragon initially slowed his vehicle, but Smallcomb reported that Mondragon then quickly accelerated towards the tribal police officer, who narrowly missed being run over.

Tribal police then initiated a vehicle pursuit of Mondragon, who Smallcomb said traveled both tribal and county roads in his attempt to evade.

Smallcomb said the Covelo resident deputy was called out from his residence and joined in the pursuit of Mondragon. The pursuit concluded in the area of Highway 162 and Hopper Lane after Mondragon's pickup became stuck in a ditch.

Mondragon was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon – by using his vehicle in a threatening manner towards the officer in the roadway – and evading arrest in a motor vehicle, Smallcomb reported.

During the investigation of the possible kidnapping Smallcomb said deputies learned that the struggle initially reported between Mondragon and the female juvenile was not a kidnapping.

Smallcomb said the struggle occurred in Mondragon's vehicle after the girl observed him inhaling “Dust Off” while pulled over on the side of the road. The female juvenile grabbed the bottle of “Dust off” from Mondragon, which resulted in a struggle for possession.

Mondragon was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked without incident, Smallcomb said. Jail documents show his bail was set at $30,000