Fallon physician Gary Ridenour dies

From the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office:

The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of Gary Ridenour.

On July 22, at approximately 6:52 a.m., the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the Ridenour residence advising of a male subject that was down and unresponsive. Personnel from the Sheriff’s Office and Banner Hospital responded while family initiated CPR on scene.

Upon the arrival of Banner medics and sheriff’s deputies, further advance lifesaving efforts along with continued CPR was administered but without success. Dr. Gary Ridenour was pronounced deceased on scene.

No indications or evidence of foul play were located or identified on scene.

Further information regarding the death will be available after the autopsy and toxicology results are returned.

Original article:

A Fallon physician facing federal charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and six counts of distributing hydrocodone, Tylenol with codeine and alprazolam died Wednesday according to several sources.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Reno in 2019, Ridenour and his nurse practitioner, Derek Braddix, who now lives in Missouri, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. In addition, Ridenour was charged with six counts of distribution of schedule II, III, IV substances hydrocodone, Tylenol with codeine, and alprazolam. Braddix was charged with four counts of distribution of Hydrocodone and three counts of distribution of Alprazolam.

The Drug Enforcement Agency along with other agencies entered the Ridenour’s office at 2152 Reno Highway, on Feb. 21, 2019, to execute search warrants. Agents also searched Ridenour’s home.

The Churchill County Sheriff’s Office also arrested Ridenour in June on two charges of open and gross lewdness, battery and preventing or dissuading from testifying or producing evidence. Sheriff Richard Hickox said the charges stem from an incident that occurred in the doctor’s office in July 2019 but is not related to the February DEA raid.

Hickox said Ridenour was released on his own recognizance in June by Justice Court.