‘We just wanted him safe’

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) – A father and son from North Carolina saved a deputy from his burning car after he hit a tree head-on during a high-speed chase with four armed robbery suspects.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office is thanking Curtis Blanton and his 17-year-old son, Pete, for helping save a deputy and sheriff’s dog after a fiery crash Wednesday night, WBTV reports.

Sheriff Alan Norman said Deputy Robert Taylor was pursuing four armed robbery suspects in a high-speed chase when his patrol car hit a tree head-on. Taylor was badly injured, and his patrol vehicle quickly went up in flames.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office is thanking Curtis Blanton and his 17-year-old son, Pete, for helping save a deputy and sheriff’s dog after a fiery crash.(Source: WBTV)

Not far from the crash, Blanton and his son were home listening to a police scanner. They drove to the scene and found Taylor on the ground outside his vehicle, unable to move.

The Blantons pulled Taylor away from the burning vehicle and rescued K-9 Thanos, as well.

“Didn’t hesitate one bit. They lay their lives on the line for us every day. That’s the least that we could do for them,” Blanton said. ″We weren’t worried about the repercussions, if the car blew up or whatever happened. We just wanted him safe.”

Capt. Justin Etters, patrol commander with the sheriff’s office, said Taylor had surgery on Thursday, is in good spirits and in stable condition. However, he will have a long recovery ahead of him.

The sheriff’s office is planning to honor the Blantons for their act of bravery.

“We thank them. We appreciate them. We love our community. They support us,” Etters said. “A lot of love and respect for them and we really appreciate them and what they did.”

Cleveland County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Taylor was badly injured in a crash, and his patrol...
Cleveland County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Taylor was badly injured in a crash, and his patrol car quickly went up in flames.(Source: WBTV)

Earlier that day, Blanton said he laid his wife of 20 years to rest after a battle with cancer. He later helped save the deputy’s life, even while mourning his own loss.

“We was just out being father and son last night and ended up being in the right place at the right time,” Blanton said. “At the end of the day, that man’s alive, and that means more than anything out here – him and his partner.”

The sheriff’s office arrested four people after the police chase, including one juvenile. According to police, they stole a person’s vehicle in Gastonia before being spotted by deputies in Cleveland County.

Source link https://www.webcenterfairbanks.com/2025/01/12/father-son-rescue-deputy-dog-burning-car-we-just-wanted-him-safe/

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