James “Dennis” Pippin, 43, of Milan, has been charged with Domestic Battery in the Presence of Children, a Class D Felony.

According to information contained in the Probable Cause Affidavit filed in the Ripley County Clerk’s office, Pippin had been consuming alcohol and then a verbal argument broke out between him and his wife.
Court records reveal that Pippin threw a beer can at his wife, striking her in the neck/collarbone area. The victim further told police that Pippin kicked her in the face.

During this altercation there were two young children present at the time in the home. The victim asked Pippin to “stop beating me”.

It is reported that Pippin then took a large quantity of Xanax and had to be taken by the life squad to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville.

When police questioned Pippin at the hospital on October 7 he said he remembered arguing with his wife about Facebook. He said he remembered that the children were present. He also remembered taking the Xanax. He said he remembered telling his wife to call his brother. He did not, however, remember throwing a beer can at (the victim) or kicking her.”

Pippin is employed with the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office as the jail commander. According to Sheriff Tom Grills he was arrested on Friday, October 7 and posted bond of $1050. “He has been suspended pending a full investigation,” the sheriff told The Versailles Republican.

Indiana State Police Detective Glen Potts investigated the situation due to the relationship of Pippin being the jail commander at the Ripley County Jail. He reviewed reports made by initial officers on the scene, Deputy Kendall Hankins and Deputy Dale Holbert. Detective Potts wrote in his report that those officers along with Pippin’s brother, Major Chief Deputy David Pippin, were at the scene at the defendant’s home where the alleged battery occurred.

James "Dennis" Pippin