By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Kenton County constable charged with illegally pulling over a motorist is turning in his blue light and entering a pretrial diversion program.

If he completes the program, the misdemeanor charges are expected to be dropped.

Ron Ferrier, 60, who was elected constable in 2002, was accused of using blue lights on his car when he pulled over a car on Interstate 75 in Boone County Aug. 23.

The Boone County sheriff's office also had charged Ferrier with pulling the car over inside Boone County, which is outside of Ferrier's jurisdiction. Both charges are misdemeanors.

In Boone District Court Thursday, Judge Michael Collins agreed to allow Ferrier to enter pre-trial diversion, said his attorney, Burr Travis. The program allows people with no criminal record who are charged with a misdemeanor to complete a class or community service to have the charges dropped. "There is no reason he should be treated any different than anybody else," he said.

Ferrier has to turn in his blue light, said Boone County Attorney J.R. Schrand.

Ferrier said later Thursday he plans to turn in the light next week. Under state law, county constables are allowed to have blue lights only if granted permission by the county's fiscal court. Ferrier did not have that permission.

"I believe I acted in the best interest of public safety," Ferrier said.

He said he will work to change the state law about blue lights for constables. His attorney has said he pulled the car over because the motorist was driving erratically. The driver was an Elsmere police officer.

State law says constables are peace officers who have arrest powers within their own county.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com