Cops capture Palmetto Bay fugitive accused of stealing serviceman’s car, leaving dog inside to die

PALMETTO BAY, Fla. — A Palmetto Bay man being sought by Colorado authorities for the theft of a serviceman’s vehicle ― and the death of his dog ― has been captured, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

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Deputies said they took Andrew Lee Jansen, 28, whom they described as a “wanted fugitive,” into custody on Saturday morning.

Andrew Beckham, of Aurora, Colorado, told Local 10 News that he had hired Jansen to watch his home and dog, named Maverick, while he was deployed.

In early April, while he was overseas, both Maverick and Jansen disappeared, Beckham said. His blue Subaru was also stolen.

Home surveillance video shows the two leaving the house on April 2. Aurora police say the car was found in nearby Denver about a month later with Maverick dead inside.

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Authorities said they took Jansen into custody after he interfered with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue who were trying to help his father.

They said deputies responded to help and Jansen ran.

“An off-duty deputy working at Jackson South Hospital was able to identify and apprehend the subject when he arrived at the hospital to visit his father who was transported there by MDFR,” an MDSO news release states.

Deputies took Jansen to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he was pictured in his booking photo still wearing his hospital visitor sticker.

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Authorities said he’s now set to be extradited to Colorado.