Bucyrus law director arrested for OVI

SENECA COUNTY — Bucyrus law director Brian Gernert was arrested Aug. 10 for an OVI after an accident that occurred on SR 4. According to the incident report, Seneca County dispatch received numerous 911 calls reporting a black Blazer had been swerving, went airborne and landed in a field. Deputies responding to the scene took Gernert, 37, of Bucyrus, into custody and transported him to Mercy Health - Tiffin Hospital for a blood draw. He was then transported to the Seneca County Jail, held until Aug. 12. Gernert has two prior OVI charges, according to the incident report. He pleaded guilty to OVI on Aug. 12 at the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court, and his arraignment was canceled. Gernert was present for a bond hearing and pretrial hearing Aug. 12 at the courthouse. He was then transported to a facility for intensive inpatient treatment, according to court documents. Court documents state Judge Rhonda Best of the municipal court recused herself from the proceedings, citing a professional association with the defendant, and Judge Robert G. Hart was assigned to preside over the case. Tommy Starner, safety services director for the city of Bucyrus, said Bucyrus officials are working with Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall "to see what we can legally do." The path forward for Bucyrus and Gernert is unclear at this time, Starner said. "He's not coming back in the near future," he said.