On 08/04/2022 at approximately 2248 hrs, Deputy Dan Bremner received a report of an assault that occurred earlier that day on Co Rd 19, Merrifield, Crow Wing County. It was reported that the assault had occurred at approximately 1300 hrs.

C.M. reported that she had just gotten home from the emergency room in Staples after being assaulted by a male identified as Christopher Jon Berg, dob 09/24/1977. Deputy Dan Bremner contacted C.M. by phone who reported that Berg is her boyfriend and on this date they were driving together to Berg’s dads house located on Co Rd 19 in Crow Wing County. C.M. and Berg have been together for about 2 and a half years. During that time, Berg has assaulted her numerous times, has rendered her unconscious and has threatened to kill her. On this date C.M. and Berg stopped at Dircks storage in the Merrifield, where an argument ensued. C.M. asked Berg if she would be safe getting back in the car with him and C.M. eventually got back in the car with Berg and they proceeded to Berg’s dad’s house. During the drive another argument occurred. When they arrived at Berg's dad's home, Berg had slowed the vehicle enough that C.M. was able to jump out of hte vehicle at which time she ran toward the road to get away from Berg. Berg exited the car and yelled something about a cell phone, ran at C.M. and he tackled C.M. into the ground near the side of the road. C.M. believed Berg injured her back and even thought perhaps it was broken. C.M. reported that the injury caused C.M. to urinate herself. C.M. was then picked up by a passerby in a truck bearing North Dakota License plates. The passerby drove C.M. to the residence owned by G.H. and J.H. J.H. drove C.M. to her residence in Staples, at which time C.M. drove herself to the Emergency Room in Staples. C.M. suffered a closed fracture of one of her left ribs. C.M. is worried Berg may come back to further harm her. C.M. reported that Berg spent 12 years in prison in the state of Arizona for attempted murder of a prior girlfriend.

Deputies were initially unable to locate Berg, but made contact by telephone on or about August 5, 2022, at which time Berg denied assaulting C.M.

Berg is currently charged in five separate criminal complaints with violating Orders for Protection involving C.M. and in another case with domestic assault also involving C.M. See 77-CR-21-853; 77-CR-21-1106; 77-CR-21-1107; 77-CR-21-1108; 77-CR-22-80; and 77-CR-22-86. Additionally, in court file 77-CR-22-67, Berg was charged with Second Degree Assault, Fleeing a Peace Officer and DWI after Berg rammed his truck into a law enforcement squad when the officer attempted to pull him over for erratic driving conduct.

Berg has convictions for violent and assaultive offenses dating back to the 1990's in the State of Minnesota. On January 7, 2009, in Yavapai County, Arizona, Berg was indicted on 12 charges including Attempted Second Degree murder after he assaulted his then girlfriend using a rifle, a knife, a bow & arrow and a 1x4 piece of wood, almost killing the victim. On August 26, 2009, Berg entered into an agreement with the prosecuting authority and pled guilty to and was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Misconduct Involving Weapons. For the two assaults he was sentenced to serve 12 years imprisonment in the Arizona Department of Corrections and he was sentenced to serve six years on the weapons charge.

Berg has failed to follow conditions of release in the matters currently set for hearing in Todd County and poses a great risk to public safety, particularly toward C.M. and law enforcement. The State requests that a warrant be issued for Berg's apprehension so that he may be brought before the Court to address bond, bail and conditions of release.