Fisher County Deputies arrested Ryan Tipton, a Fisher County Paramedic, on the charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault, and along with state investigators, conducted a search of the hospitalowned property where the crime is alleged to have been committed.
The Fisher County Sheriff’s Department was alerted to an alleged sexual assault early in the morning on Sunday, June 23. After taking the initial complaint and subsequent victim interview, all officers were called to the station to begin the investigation.
“We called in all the troops and immediately went to work with the DA’s office,” explained Fisher County Chief Deputy Jarod Smith. Each aspect of investigation since that time, Smith added, has been checked and doublechecked.
Officers said statements remained consistent and as whiteness interviews cooperated a number of details. Other evidence that was brought to light during the initial investigation prompted the deputies to prepare the paperwork to file for the warrant by Sunday night.
Based on this evidence and the medical examiner’s report, deputies filed warrants for a search of the property and for Tipton’s arrest on Monday, but Tipton was off duty and not in the area. In the effort to prevent any further incident at the Fisher County Hospital District where Tipton has worked for the past several years as a paramedic with the district’s EMS service, officers affected that warrant during a traffic stop early on Tuesday morning.
A DPS polygrapher was brought in to conduct a polygraph examination, but Tipton refused to take that test. Arresting officers said he immediately requested an attorney. Officers were unable to conduct an interview with the suspect, and Tipton refused to answer questions related to the incident.
Fisher County Deputies, along with district and state investigators later conducted a search of the house located adjacent to the Fisher County Hospital District’s main campus. Over the years, the house has been used for numerous purposes, including renting property to house Rotan ISD teachers who moved to the area, as well as occasionally sitting vacant for months at a time.
As FCHD policy requires EMS personnel to remain inside the county during their duty shift, the district offers the residence as temporary living quarters for personnel that live elsewhere. It is believed this is where the alleged crime took place, and while investigators confirmed the existence of additional evidence, they were unable to share information that was close to the ongoing investigation.
DMC staff requested copies of those warrants but were unable to obtain a copy of the documents before the print deadline.
Hospital administration confirmed that the district conducted a background check on all employees prior to employment and there was nothing in Tipton’s history that raised any concerns. Those who often worked closely with Tipton said he was a solid employee and competent paramedic.
While FCHD administrators declined to answer specific questions related to the case, the district released a statement after the arrest on Tuesday saying: “We have been made aware of the criminal charges and have started our own internal investigation. The district has no further comment, as we do not want to interfere with the investigation process at this time.”
Officers confirmed that this most recent incident is not the only one being investigated. However, officers said that while no other victims have come forward at this time, they remain in a holding pattern, understanding there could be others that come forward as the case progresses.
“We are such a small department, and we’re not sure how many, if anybody might come forward,” said Chief Smith. “We are doing much of the initial legwork, but it will basically go to the DA’s office, who will be finishing it out.”
District Attorney Ricky Thompson said he was unable to comment deeply on what is an evolving situation within an ongoing investigation.
“Like any criminal case that comes through our office, we seek to find the truth and for justice to be done,” said Thompson. “We will seek justice to be done in this case too.”
Ryan Tipton was charged and processed at the Fisher County Law Enforcement Center, where he was then transferred to Jones County Jail for holding. Tipton was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault—a first-degree felony—and can carry a sentence of 5 to 99 years in prison but can be escalated depending on certain factors.
Tipton was being held on a $25,000 bond, which he posted later on Tuesday. However, officials initiated a 24-hour Emergency Protection Order (EPO), that allowed authorities to hold Tipton for the duration of that period.
Tipton was released from the Jones County Jail at 2:30 on Wednesday. We were unable to make contact with Tipton before our print deadline. More information will be shared as the case moves forward.