BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The man accused of bringing a suspicious package filled with a white substance to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation building in Bowling Green made a court appearance Tuesday morning.
Daniel Gerschutz, 72, of Carey, was arraigned via video in Bowling Green Municipal Court.
He is charged with inducing panic after the Monday incident that resulted in the BCI building being evacuated. Gerschutz was granted a continuance to consult an attorney. He has a preliminary hearing set for Monday at 9 a.m.
Gerschutz is being held in the Wood County Justice Center. His bail was set at $50,000 and has been ordered to have no contact with BCI personnel. Gerschutz was ordered to be assessed by a criminal justice coordinator or mental health personnel.
Bowling Green Fire Department was dispatched to the BCI office in Bowling Green around 3:15 p.m. Monday for a potential HAZMAT incident.
Around 8:30 p.m., authorities gave the all clear.
The substance was sent off for testing and was not considered a threat.
Gerschutz allegedly brought the package filled with a white substance to the federal BCI building and slid it under the door, Bowling Green Fire Chief Bill Moorman said.
Gerschutz was taken into custody shortly thereafter in the parking lot and charged with a inducing panic commit offense with reckless disregard.
"Given the fact that we had had a previous interaction with the same individual approximately two weeks ago and there was some discerning statements made at that time we thought that we would be cautious," said John Betori, Bowling Green State University Deputy Police chief.
Fire officials said Gerschutz made comments saying he wanted to get back at the people who wronged him in the past.
There was no immediate danger to people in the area, Moorman said.
"The only thing we evacuated at the moment was the BCI building," Moorman said. "We got all the employees out of there." The area was cordoned off.
Five hours after the package was delivered, crews reopened the road and cleared the scene.
"You have to be cautious how you approach this stuff. As you know some of the stuff that we deal with on a day to day basis can be pretty dangerous so when you encounter unknown substances it's a really good idea to make sure that you have the right people on scene," officer coordinator of a nearby residence building, Brittany Ward, said. "People that have the advanced training take their time and do what they need to do."
Police said they decontaminated the suspect and medically checked him as a precaution and none of the 24 employees inside the BCI building were exposed to the substance.
Additionally, neighbors said even early on they weren't concerned about the situation.
"I did see on the BGSU page that they said they did have the person in custody so that's kind of easing my mind. If they didn't have that person in custody I'd feel a little be differently but totally I interact with BGSU PD a lot and I have complete faith in them," a Bowling Green State University student said.
Police will continue investigating the substance, the motive behind the delivery and more.
Perrysburg Township Fire and the Wood County Emergency Management Agency also were called in to assist at the scene.