Charges Against Schuylkill County Man Who Led Police on Pursuit in New Philly Waived for Court

A New Ringgold man had charges against him stemming from an incident in early September waived for Schuylkill County court on Tuesday.

Russell Gernert IV remains in Schuylkill County Prison on $200,000 bail after allegedly being found with a cache of narcotics during a police pursuit.

According to court documents, Gernert IV was on a blue sport bike headed west on Ferndale Rd. in New Philadelphia. Police say Gernert IV failed to stop at Ferndale Rd.’s intersection with Valley St. near Mazloom’s Bar. 

Gernert IV also failed to stop at the intersection of Water and Kimber streets and then at another intersection on Wiggan St. 

Police say it was apparent that Gernert IV was a new motorcycle rider because he wasn’t shifting properly. He was also allegedly looking over his shoulder to see if police were following him.

Gernert IV nearly dropped the motorcycle he was riding but maintained his balance and continued driving. After turning onto Macomb St., police say he started fleeing the scene. That’s when police activated emergency lights and a siren and gave pursuit. 

Gernert IV made a left onto Ferndale Rd. and accelerated up the mountain. Police say they got close enough to the motorcycle to read the license plate and after communicating that to dispatchers at Schuylkill County 9-1-1, it was clear that Gernert was likely riding a stolen motorcycle because the plate came back with a hit for another brand.

Gernert IV then continued to flee the scene up the mountain, at times reaching a speed of 75 mph. Police say they slowed the pursuit by blocking a sharp turn at the top of the mountain. That’s when Gernert IV drove onto Pierson Blvd., a dirt road, and continued for about a mile until the motorcycle slid out from under him. 

The police patrol vehicle giving pursuit then slid into the motorcycle and Gernert IV began running. Police say he threw his helmet and a bookbag he was carrying and ran for another 50 yards before stopping. 

Police took Gernert IV into custody. 

A search of the bookbag he threw resulted in these contents, police say: 

• 11.9 grams of cocaine in two baggies
• 27.8 grams of meth in two baggies
• 6.5 grams of fentanyl in 10 separate baggies
• 23.7 grams of marijuana in a glass jar and a baggie
• 6 syringes
• 1 digital scale with white residue on it
• 3 glass smoking devices with a burnt residue on them
• Several baggies with white residue on them

Gernert IV allegedly admitted to taking the plate off another motorcycle and placing it onto the bike he used in the pursuit.

The charges he’s facing related to this incident include felonies for fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, flight to avoid apprehension, and drug possession with intent to deliver along with numerous misdemeanor charges.