On January 25, 2014 at 0402 hours, Officer Steve Eckman was driving westbound on Channel Islands Blvd. at Raiders Way when he saw a confirmed stolen vehicle turn eastbound on Channel Islands Blvd. from Raiders Way. The vehicle had been reported stolen at 0120 hours from the 600 block of South Oxnard Blvd. Upon seeing the police unit, the suspect fled at a high rate of speed eastbound on Channel Island Blvd. Officer Eckman then activated his lights and siren and initiated a vehicle pursuit.
 
The suspect, later identified as Andy Franco, led Officer Eckman on a brief two minute vehicle pursuit into the Lemonwood Neighborhood of Oxnard. The pursuit came to an end on Beaufort Drive north of Ives Avenue when the suspect stopped abruptly. When the suspect stopped, a slow speed collision occurred between Officer Eckman’s police unit and the suspect vehicle. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident after the slow speed collision. There were no injuries. Damage to both vehicles was minor.
 
The suspect, Andy Franco, is a repeat auto theft offender being both the driver and passenger in prior stolen vehicle investigations. Franco was booked into the Ventura County Jail for Auto Theft 10851 CVC and Felony Evading 2800.2(a) CVC.