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In a bizarre case in Cordes Lakes, Arizona, an alleged squatter has been charged with a multitude of felonies after allegedly moving into a deceased man’s home, occupying the residence and forging documents in order to sell the man’s 2005 Chevy Tahoe.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, 45-year-old Michael Macinnis faces charges of fraud, forgery and aggravated assault on law enforcement after his arrest on January 3.
Authorities revealed that Macinnis had been residing in the Cordes Lakes home since May 2023, months after the homeowner had passed away.
According to investigators, Macinnis purportedly took advantage of the situation, forging documents to make it appear that he was the estate’s personal representative, enabling him to sell the deceased man’s vehicle to an unsuspecting buyer in Flagstaff.
“Macinnis was ‘squatting’ at the residence after the homeowner had passed away some months before. Macinnis then allegedly took a 2005 Chevy Tahoe that had belonged to the homeowner and forged documents to make it appear he was the estate’s personal representative,” stated the Sheriff’s Office in a press release.
The arrest did not come without incident, as Macinnis reportedly resisted law enforcement’s efforts to apprehend him.
During the struggle, he allegedly slammed a metal door on one of the deputy’s wrists. Law enforcement officers managed to subdue Macinnis, but not without challenges.
Authorities later discovered that Macinnis had possibly swallowed up to 40 fentanyl pills before his arrest, prompting medical intervention.
“They were finally able to take him into custody and were told he had perhaps swallowed up to 40 fentanyl pills prior to his arrest and then had purged his stomach of the drugs,” the statement read.
Macinnis exhibited increasing incoherence and drowsiness during the journey to the jail, leading to the administration of Narcan upon his arrival.
Subsequently, he was transferred to the hospital for further evaluation.
Macinnis now faces nine counts, including aggravated assault on law enforcement, along with charges related to the fraud and forgery case.
As of the latest information available, details about his plea and legal representation remain unavailable.
Squatter incidents, though uncommon, have been reported across the United States.
Suspects often target homes where rightful owners are away for extended periods, such as vacation homes or rentals. In this case, Macinnis allegedly took advantage of a deceased individual’s property, illustrating the unusual and disturbing nature of such occurrences.
This incident echoes previous cases of squatters targeting properties belonging to deceased individuals.
Last year, a similar incident unfolded in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where alleged squatters moved into a house where both the homeowner and tenant had recently died.
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