DATE OF INCIDENT: Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 11:45 am
TYPE OF INCIDENT: Arrest for Felony Child Abuse and Unlawful Use of Pepper Spray
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE: 3900 block of S. Higuera, Food 4 Less
SUSPECT: Travis Franco, 38 yrs old, resident of Bakersfield
VICTIMS: Five adults, two juveniles
On Thursday, July 30, 2026, at approximately 11:45am, the San Luis Obispo Police Department received a call about an incident that took place in the Food 4 Less parking lot. A family of five adults and two juveniles got into an argument with an adult male, later identified as Travis Franco. During the argument, one of the adult victims feared for the safety of their family and displayed pepper spray to compel Franco to leave them alone. Franco retreated to his vehicle and then returned with his own pepper spray and sprayed the adults and the children. Franco then fled as police had been called. The victims were treated by SLO Fire and SLO Ambulance at the scene.
A county wide alert was sent out, and the suspect was later located in Avila Beach by the California Highway Patrol and Port San Luis Harbor Patrol. SLOPD responded and took Franco into custody. When officers arrested Franco, he was also in possession of a handgun in his vehicle. The handgun was not stored properly per California law and was seized. Franco was transported and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on the following charges:
PC 273 (a) - Felony child abuse
PC 22810 – Misdemeanor unlawful use of pepper spray
PC 25400(a) - Misdemeanor improper storage of a firearm in a vehicle
If anyone has additional details regarding this incident, then please contact Officer Bracy at 805-594-8087 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867.
