Police: Man Cut Wires to Ease Pressure on His Brain

Raymond Norbert Bischoff, from a Sterms County arrest for DUI on August, 22, 2011

Hastings Minnesota man Raymond Norbert Bischoff, 65, is accused of cutting the wires to the Internet and the telephone outside a local business on three occasions because, apparently, the electricity was hurting his brain.

According to the summons (shown below), police responded to calls once in December 2012 and twice in January 2013. In December the Internet wire, a rain gutter heat wire and the wires to an unused television dish were cut. On January 3 the Internet cable was again cut and the outside furnace power switch was off.

On January 4 the Internet cable was cut and while the victim was reporting the crime to 911, the phone line was cut too, interrupting the call.

Police arrived while the cable company was repairing the cut wires. Officers noticed Bischoff watching them and asked to see the bottom of his shoes. The treads matched those left in the snow by the perpetrator. Bischoff, who was living at a nearby hotel, said he often walked through that business’ parking lot, but agreed to be questioned by police.

He soon confessed to having cut the wires on all three occasions, because of the pressure it was putting on his brain, which he said was a recurring problem that he attributed to the wires.

He is charged with one count of felony criminal damage to property. The damage is estimated at $1,000.

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