Joe Ernst, the owner of Ernst Lanes, has been indicted on three felony charges related to his December arrest for making and distributing cocaine.
Joe Ernst, the owner of Ernst Lanes, has been indicted on three felony charges related to his December arrest for making and distributing cocaine.
Ernst, 71, of Rock Creek Road, Hambden Township, remains in jail after his bond was revoked in January.
He appeared Feb. 24 via video before Judge Carolyn Paschke at Geauga County Common Pleas Court. Wearing a striped green jumpsuit and long white undershirt, Ernst pleaded not guilty.
Ernst’s lawyer, Ian Friedman, said Ernst would be asking for bond again once all of his medical documents have been acquired. Judge Matthew Rambo was assigned the case.
The grand jury also agreed to add specifications to the charges that could allow the state to seize Ernst’s Tesla, the bowling alley at 10651 Grant Street and $8,992 in cash found during the warrant search.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said Ernst used the bowling alley to manufacture, store and also distribute crack cocaine.
“There are legal hurdles still there,” said Flaiz about the seizures. “It’s just the beginning of the legal process.”
According to the Feb. 20 indictment, Ernst manufactured, stored and distributed cocaine in amounts that exceeded 100 grams, resulting in a first-degree felony trafficking in cocaine charge.
Ernst was also charged with possession of more than 100 grams of cocaine, a first-degree felony, and illegal manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony.
Ernst — the second-generation owner of the once-popular community hang-out that closed in March 2020 and reopened only briefly in 2023 — did not have a criminal record. He was arrested at the bowling alley when deputies forced entry Dec. 12 and Ernst had cocaine and crack cocaine on his person as he exited another door, according to law enforcement.
A further search found a safe that contained a large bag of suspected cocaine and an undisclosed amount of cash.
There were also several crack pipes and lab equipment commonly used in manufacturing crack cocaine.
Ernst was originally released on a $300,000 cash or surety bond, but on Christmas Eve, Chardon police and EMS responded to a 911 call at 4:33 a.m.
Two males and one female were present at 116 Grant St., a house directly across the street from the bowling alley, according to Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus.
“The male and female were in the throes of an overdose,” Niehus said. “Both were taken to the hospital. A third person present at the house was the homeowner, Joe Ernst.”
The male who was transported to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center died, Niehus said.
While Ernst was detained, it was discovered he was on pretrial release and at some point, he was subjected to a drug test, Niehus said. The probation department found he was in violation of his bond.
Melissa Bond, of North Hambden Street, Chardon, who was at the bowling alley when Ernst was arrested, was also indicted Feb. 20 for possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and possessing drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor.
