Ball Slasher Strikes at Superior High School
The incident took place on May 24 around 3:00 a.m.
Courtesy: Douglas Co. Jail
SUPERIOR, Wis. – A Duluth man with prior convictions involving the slashing of exercise balls has been arrested once again, this time for an alleged incident at Superior High School.
Christopher Neil Bjerkness, 39, has previously been convicted for several other incidents involving burglary and damage to property. He has also openly admitted to becoming sexually aroused by popping exercise balls.
Bjerkness now faces charges of Burglary of a Building or Dwelling, Criminal Damage to Property, and Obstructing an Officer.
According the the criminal complaint, Superior Police officers responded to a burglary in process call just after 3:00 a.m. on May 24 at Superior High School.
A reporting party reported seeing a person inside the building after the alarm went off. Officers arrived on scene and after hearing a loud noise, entered the swimming pool area and observed a male in the back corner of the room. The male was arrested without incident and later identified as Bjerkness.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered 22 exercise balls damaged in the deep end of the diving pool. Two exercise balls have not been accounted for. The balls have been valued at $39.95 each.
Bjerkness told officers he had been riding his bike from Duluth to Superior, and while he was in the vicinity of Superior High School, he observed an open door and entered the school to “warm up.”
Prior to entering the pool area, Bjerkness stated he did not touch or rummage through any items, according to the criminal complaint. Bjerkness then told officers he opened the doors to the pool area, where he observed the exercise balls and stated he popped a “rack and three quarters” of exercise balls with a black car key.
Surveillance footage from the school shows Bjerkness pulling on numerous exterior doors to gain entry. He entered a construction zone and continue to attempt to gain entry, until he finally is able to pull a door open. Footage from within the school shows Bjerkness attempting to gain entry into classrooms and doors before entering the pool balcony.
Bjerkness due back in court Wednesday.
