FAIRFIELD – During the month of November 2018, the Veterinary Clinic, Fairfield, IA, began to suspect shortages of a Schedule IV narcotic from their inventory. The Clinic staff began to conduct an internal investigation which culminated in a staff member observing a Fairfield Police Department Officer (later identified as Ryan Mills, 31 years old) enter and leave the clinic prior to business hours. This information was reported to the FPD Police Chief Dave Thomas who immediately contacted the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Major Crime Unit to conduct the investigation due to the conflict of interest.
On January 1, 2019, while on duty, Mills was observed entering the Veterinary Clinic. A short time later, Mills was interviewed and during a search of his personal property, evidence of the burglary was recovered. The Fairfield Police Department immediately placed Mills on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. The prosecution of the case was referred from the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office to the Washington County Attorney’s Office to alleviate any potential conflicts of interest.
On February 11, 2019, Mills was charged with the crime of Burglary in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony, in violation of Iowa Code 713.5. Mills was booked into the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Jail pursuant to a warrant. This was a joint investigation by the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Fairfield Police Department, the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office and the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
