PetIQ executive charged with attempted strangulation. Here’s what we know
A senior executive of a national veterinary supply company based in Eagle was accused Monday of trying to strangle his wife.
Robert Michael Herrman, 55, of Eagle, was arrested at 3:28 a.m. Sunday by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office. Herrman is the executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for PetIQ, which sells pet medication and wellness products for dogs, cats and other animals.
Patrick Orr, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said the incident “appears to be a pretty standard type of domestic disturbance call. Herrman is accused of grabbing another person during an argument at a home in the Eagle area just after 1 a.m.”
At the arraignment in Ada County Magistrate Court, Shawn Kelley, a legal intern for the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, said Herrman put his hand around his wife’s throat for about five seconds. When she tried to use an alarm system to get help, he pulled it out of the wall, Kelley said. Because of that, he was also charged with intentional destruction of a telecommunication line in addition to attempted strangulation.
Kelley said Herrman had made disturbing statements before the incident, including two weeks ago, when he allegedly said: “You’re pushing me to the edge. I could take my gun out and kill us all.”
Herrman’s lawyer, John DeFranco, said the alleged victim had been drinking before the incident. Part of the reason Herrman restrained the woman was so that she wouldn’t drive, he said.
“My client has no criminal history, your honor,” DeFranco said. “My client is a high-character guy.”
But Magistrate Judge Abraham Wingrove called the allegations “concerning” and set bail at $50,000. He also ordered Herrman to have no contact with his wife for a year.
“We are aware of an incident involving Robert Michael Herrman and are taking this matter very seriously,” PetIQ spokesperson Kara Schafer said in an email to the Idaho Statesman. “As there is an ongoing investigation involving law enforcement, we will not discuss or comment on it further. He has been placed on leave pending further investigation.”
The company employed nearly 1,100 full-time workers and about 800 part-timers as of Dec. 31, according to its latest annual report. Its stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
This story was originally published June 26, 2023 at 11:46 AM.
