Thomas Gerstner, former Sussex fire captain accused of OWI pleads not guilty

WAUKESHA COUNTY -- Former Sussex Fire Captain Thomas Gerstner, who resigned following his arrest for allegedly driving a fire engine while drunk on May 30th made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday, June 29th.

47-year-old Gerstner faces one count of OWI -- first offense, and one count of operating without a valid license due to expiration -- both traffic forfitures.

Gerstner has pleaded not guilty.

He will next be in court on August 3rd for a hearing.

Officials say around 12:15 p.m. on May 30th, the Wisconsin State Patrol was requested by the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department to investigate a minor traffic crash between a fire engine and a parked car.

The investigation determined Gerstner, the operator of the fire engine, was under the influence of an intoxicant at the time of the crash. Officials also say Gerstner was operating without a valid driver’s license — which had expired in February.

Gerstner was arrested and taken to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Sub-station — where he submitted to an intoxilizer test and was later released.

Gerstner was a volunteer with the Sussex Fire Department for 19 years.