MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (CBS12) — A wanted fugitive accused in a disturbing out-of-state case involving a stolen vehicle and the death of a dog belonging to a deployed U.S. serviceman was arrested in Miami-Dade County, authorities announced.
Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced on May 16 that they took 28-year-old Andrew Lee Jansen into custody after a brief search that began at a home in Palmetto Bay and ended at a South Miami-Dade hospital.
According to investigators, Jansen was wanted by police in Aurora, Colorado, in connection with the theft of a vehicle and personal belongings belonging to a serviceman currently stationed overseas. The serviceman reportedly hired Jansen to care for his dog while he was deployed.
Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced on May 16 that they took 28-year-old Andrew Lee Jansen into custody after a brief search that began at a home in Palmetto Bay and ended at a South Miami-Dade hospital. (Miami-Dade Corrections)
Authorities say the animal was later found dead inside the stolen vehicle, intensifying the investigation and prompting a warrant for Jansen’s arrest.
The situation came to the attention of Miami-Dade deputies around 3:42 a.m. Saturday, when they responded to a residence in the Village of Palmetto Bay to assist Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews during a medical call involving the suspect’s father. While there, deputies say Jansen interfered with emergency personnel, prompting additional law enforcement response.
Officials said Jansen fled the residence in an attempt to evade capture, leading deputies to canvass the surrounding neighborhood and issue a “be on the lookout” alert with his description. The search, however, was short-lived.
An off-duty deputy working security at Jackson South Hospital later recognized Jansen when he arrived to visit his father, who had been transported there by fire rescue crews. The deputy detained Jansen without incident, successfully bringing the search to an end.
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Jansen was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he remains in custody pending extradition to Colorado to face charges tied to the theft case. Authorities said further details about the original investigation will be handled by the Aurora Police Department.
The arrest highlights the coordination between local law enforcement agencies and the role of situational awareness in capturing fugitives, particularly those sought across state lines. Investigators did not release additional details about a timeline in the Colorado case but emphasized that the suspect’s actions prompted swift law enforcement efforts once he was identified in South Florida.
Anyone with additional information related to the case is urged to contact the Aurora Police Department.