TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A Toledo Police officer is facing criminal charges after allegedly buying marijuana while in uniform and driving his Toledo Police vehicle. Officer Jeremy Berndt, 35, was charged with a misdemeanor count of Dereliction of Duty in Toledo Municipal Court. The charge was filed on January 23.
According to court documents, Officer Berndt was caught on video purchasing marijuana from Maximum Performance Cycles on Laskey Road on December 3, 2024. The affidavit states that Berndt was wearing his police-issued uniform and firearm during the transaction, and he arrived at and left the location in his marked Toledo Police vehicle. Notably, Maximum Performance Cycles is not a state-licensed marijuana dispensary.
When contacted for comment, a Toledo Police Department spokesperson declined to provide an interview, citing an ongoing internal investigation under collective bargaining agreements.
Court records show Berndt was granted an own recognizance bond during a court appearance on January 31 and is scheduled to return to court on February 14.
