Ernie was one of the homeless men who palled around with Professor and Phil. Along with Phil, he was captured by the Garbageman shortly before the Turtles learned of homeless people going missing. He was imprisoned on the Garbageman's island and forced to work for him, but was later freed by the efforts of the Turtles.
Ernie and Phil begin the episode as they are looking through garbage cans in an alley trying to find bottles that they can cash in for nickels. When Phil finds a bottle, Ernie tells him not to break it and calls him a fumble fingers. Though Phil protests that he never breaks them, Ernie says he breaks them all the time. Good natured Phil acknowledges this statement.
A few minutes later, the Garbageman's truck arrives and kidnaps both men, causing Phil to drop and break the bottle.