Crime & Safety

Police: Serial Texting Stalker Taken Into Custody

A Racine man is in custody for allegedly making threatening and harassing calls and texts - possibly for years - to Racine area residents.

A man police say has been harassing people for years via text message is in custody.

William Crockett, 42, is accused of calling and sending threatening and harassing text messages to unsuspecting people throughout the Racine area for years, according to the Racine County Sheriff's Department. 

The number he allegedly used for these calls and messages is (262) 822-0325.    
One woman who asked that Patch not use her name is a recent recipient of calls and texts that could be from Crockett. She said she received a call on her cell phone Wednesday, but she didn't answer and the person didn't leave a message. A few minutes later, the person texted her and used her name.

Because the woman runs her own business, she wasn't at first suspicious. Further interaction, though, raised some red flags and the woman cut off communication by blocking her phone from being able to receive any additional messages.

"This guy crossed the line with me when he continued to communicate with me when I was firm in telling him that 'I am respectfully discontinuing our conversation. Please do not reply to this message or contact me again,'" she told Patch.

Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling said in a written release that the person making the calls and sending the texts sometimes identified himself as William, and this has been going on possibly for years.

"The Sheriff’s Office has learned that these are not isolated incidents and Crockett may have been engaging in threatening and harassing behavior for a number of years," the statement reads.

The RCSD continues to investigate and asks anyone who may be the victim of threatening or harassing calls or texts from (262) 822-0325 to call the Sheriff's Department at (262) 636-3323.

Crockett is in the Racine County Jail possibly facing 10 counts of misdemeanor unlawful use of a cell phone. His initial appearance could take place Tuesday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant