Man sinks car near Merrimac Ferry landing

A man is facing several criminal charges after damaging and shooting at a Merrimac home Wednesday, according to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office. The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office contacted Sauk County authorities, alerting them to conduct a welfare check on a man possibly traveling to the Merrimac area. Sauk County authorities found the man near the Merrimac Ferry landing and discovered he had purposefully sunk a car in Lake Wisconsin. Later that morning and in the following days, authorities received numerous reports of property damage throughout the Merrimac area. They believe the man broke into a home on Idlewild Road, causing extensive damage and attempting to set the home on fire. Authorities say he was armed with a shotgun and fired at the home. He faces charges of attempted arson of a dwelling, armed burglary, criminal damage to property and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Sauk County Crime Stoppers or report it to their local police.