Auto theft suspect who led Fresno police around Fashion Fair arrested a day later

An auto theft suspect who led detectives around the city Tuesday was taken into custody Wednesday morning at North Clark and East Belmont avenues, near where things started the day before.

Andres Zuniga, 33, was booked on charges of auto theft, carrying a concealed knife and possession of narcotics, a police spokesman reported.

Officers began following Zuniga on Tuesday when he was spotted in a stolen vehicle in the same area, police said. The detectives, in undercover vehicles, tailed Zuniga to Fashion Fair shopping mall at North First Street and East Shaw Avenue, where he dropped off a passenger.

Police were unable to stop the car because of safety concerns, and Zuniga reportedly drove on several freeways, including Highway 180 and Highway 41, before he lost officers near North Van Ness Avenue and Belmont.

Wednesday, officers caught up with Zuniga shortly after 10 a.m.

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 11:46 AM.