BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — The man police say sexually assaulted two Bainbridge High School girls and looked at another underneath a school bathroom stall pleaded not guilty Thursday on a slew of charges.
Bainbridge Island Schools superintendent Dr. Peter Bang-Knudsen tells KOMO Wednesday’s string of incidents was unacceptable and he would work to make sure it never happens again.
After a short chase and dramatic arrest, KOMO reports 32-year-old veteran William Merritt, who has no criminal history, is in jail with bail set at $500,000.
Police Chief Matthew Hamner says both his department and the school are turning their focus to how this happened on campus.
Wednesday’s chase put all Bainbridge Island schools on lockdown for 30-minutes.