FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office says a wanted man tried to outsmart deputies in a game of hide-and-seek, but his hiding spot turned out to be more cramped than clever.
The sheriff’s office said its deputies with the agency’s Fugitive Unit went to a home on June 5 to serve a felony warrant on James Myers, 33.
Authorities say Myers had skipped a court appearance tied to several charges, including grand theft, fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, excessive speeding, and resisting an officer. Those charges stem from a March incident involving a stolen truck and a run-in with a K-9 unit that ultimately led to his arrest at the time.
This time around, deputies say Myers tried a different strategy when they showed up, disappearing somewhere inside the home. A search did not take long to turn up something unusual. Myers had wedged himself inside the air conditioning system’s air handler, tucked behind ductwork in an apparent attempt to avoid being found.
Deputies pulled him out and took him into custody without further incident.
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He was not the only one trying to stay out of sight. During the search, deputies also found Joann Rosario, 36, hiding in a closet. Investigators say Rosario attempted to help Myers avoid arrest, which led to her being charged with obstruction of justice.
Myers was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held without bond. Rosario was also taken into custody but was later released on her own recognizance.
The sheriff’s office says the case is a reminder that trying to hide from an active warrant, or helping someone else do it, usually only makes matters worse.
