KELLEYS ISLAND, Ohio – UPDATED – Richland County Health Commissioner Martin Tremmel was arrested early Saturday morning on Kelleys Island and spent the weekend in the Erie County jail after allegedly assaulting his wife.
The Richland County Health Department issued a press release Monday morning that stated, “The Board of Health at Richland Public Health is aware of an unfortunate alleged incident regarding our health commissioner, Martin Tremmel.”
The statement continued, “The Board of Health recognizes the seriousness of this matter. It is important to emphasize that the board and the management team are working together to assure the public, our community partners and our employees that the daily work of Richland Public Health will remain steady. Mr. Tremmel is currently on vacation. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
A special meeting of the Board of Health has been scheduled for July 15 at 7 p.m. in which an executive session will be held to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of public employees or officials.
According to a police report filed by Chief Shawn M. Craig of the Kelleys Island Police Department, Tremmel was arrested and removed from the island by the Coast Guard, where he was placed in the custody of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the report, police were dispatched to the Tremmel’s residence shortly after midnight, Saturday June 11.
Upon locating Tremmel in the residence, police asked him about the 911 call placed by his wife alleging domestic violence. Tremmel repeatedly denied that there had been any domestic violence and stated that his wife had become “very intoxicated” while out at an an island restaurant, The Caddie Shack.
Tremmel’s wife told police that she thought he had become jealous of the attention being paid to her by other people while they were out for an evening with two other couples. Tremmel allegedly pulled his wife’s hair and slapped her when they got in their vehicle to return home.
Upon returning home, the conflict between the couple escalated, according to the victim. Craig wrote that Tremmel’s wife said he pushed her to the floor and, “…put his foot on her neck and pushed harder and harder and told her to apologize. She told him she couldn’t breathe and he said apologize. So she apologized and he let her up.”
The report noted that Officer Pollock, a female officer, was requested to check the victim’s neck area. Craig wrote, “During this time, I observed redness on the right side of [the victim’s] neck and redness on both of her elbows.”
Craig wrote in the report that the alleged victim repeatedly asked to change her statement. “She also continued to say that she wanted to change her story and didn’t know why she called the police. I advised her that she didn’t need to be treated like this. She stated this was the beginning of the end. I asked her if this has happened in the past. She didn’t respond. Officer Pollock stated that she told her yes.”
On July 14, Tremmel issued the following statement, “I am very sorry for what happened on Kelleys Island this past weekend. The family situation I’m dealing with is serious and sad, but the facts differ significantly from what was written in the newspapers. I adamantly deny the allegations and I hope people will keep an open mind about this.
I want to thank law enforcement for doing their job. I also want to thank my family for their support during this time. My plan right now is to cooperate with the authorities and to continue doing my job as health commissioner.
I now ask for some privacy while my family deals with this difficult situation.”
Tremmel was released on a $10,000 O.R. (own recognizance) bond, according to the Register. According to the Erie County Municipal Court website, arraignment is set for July 13 at 10 a.m. and a pre-trial hearing is set for August 17 at 9 a.m. Trial is set for Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Tremmel was ordered to have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the victim while the case is pending.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include additional information.
