ELKHORN — A man wanted in connection with a Racine County fraud investigation was taken into custody Monday after hiding in an attic, forcing the evacuation of an Elkhorn apartment building.

The Racine County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau along with law enforcement officers from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Elkhorn Police Department served a search warrant March 8 in Elkhorn.

The Racine County Sheriff’s Office was looking for Michael Myers, a suspect in numerous fraud investigations in southeastern Wisconsin, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

While serving the search warrant, deputies discovered Myers was hiding in an attic and refused to surrender.

The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and City of Elkhorn Police Department were called in, and the apartment building was evacuated.

After approximately 90 minutes, Myers attempted to evade law enforcement by breaking through an attic wall and entering an adjoining neighbor’s residence.

Law enforcement officers were waiting in the neighbor’s apartment and took Myers into custody without further incident.

He was transported to the Racine County Jail and the following charges were recommended to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office:
• Unauthorized Use of an Individual’s Personal Identifying Information (2 counts)
• Theft by Fraud
• Misdemeanor Bail Jumping (3 counts)


By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak launched Walworth County Community News in 2021. He is the former editor of The Week and Walworth County Sunday.