DENVER – The reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez, who escaped from Denver Health Medical Center earlier this week, has been upped to $10,000.
Denver police and other authorities continue to search for Venzor-Gonzalez, who escaped Monday around 6:30 a.m. from Denver Health. Police previously said a worker at Denver Health saw him run from the hospital.
Commander Barb Archer said at a Thursday afternoon news conference regarding a related police shooting that arresting Venzor-Gonzalez was the department’s “top priority” and that officers were “pursuing any information” they could get.
“We have no idea where he is,” Archer said. “If we did, we’d already have him in custody.”
Friday, Denver police released a new Crime Stoppers alert showing the reward for finding Venzor-Gonzalez had been increased to $10,000.
Venzor-Gonzalez is described as 5-foot-7and 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark green inmate uniform bearing the letters "CCMF." Police said he may be in a blue 1998 Honda with license plates OMH216.
Officials had several run-ins with Venzor-Gonzalez last year including a high-speed chase in the Pueblo area, which Venzor-Gonzalez eventually escaped. Police later found his abandoned car.
Archer said Thursday that police believed Venzor-Gonzalez was inside a vehicle upon which officers fired Monday night in northeast Denver. The police shooting left one man dead and another wounded.
Anyone with information on Venzor-Gonzalez is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or 911. Police say he is considered armed and dangerous.
