A father and son have been deemed heroes after they helped rescue a North Carolina officer and his K-9 following a high-speed car crash.
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According to local media outlet WBTV, the terrifying incident occurred last Wednesday, Jan. 9. Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman stated that the officer, identified as Deputy Robert Taylor, was pursuing four armed robbery suspects in a high-speed chase. Things quickly took a turn when the deputy’s patrol car hit a tree head-on.
Taylor was badly injured and his vehicle quickly burst into flames.
Curtis Blanton and his 17-year-old son, Pete, were at their home nearby, listening to a police scanner. They heard what had happened and drove to the scene. They were able to pull the officer from the vehicle as well as his K-9, Thanos.
While speaking to WBTV, Blanton stated he and his son didn’t hesitate to assist the officer.
“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 stated. ″We weren’t worried about the repercussions if the car blew up or whatever happened. We just wanted him safe.”
Captain Justin Etters, Patrol Commander with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office, shared that Taylor had surgery on Thursday. Etters confirmed that Taylor is in good spirits and stable.
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Officer is planning to honor the Blantons for helping Taylor and Thanos.
“We thank them we appreciate them, we love our community, they support us,” Etters further stated. “A lot of love and respect for them, and we really appreciate them and what they did.”
The Father Had Buried His Wife Hours Before Rescuing the Officer and K-9
Hours before the officer and the K-9 were involved in the near-deadly car crash, Blanton buried his wife of 20 years. She died amid a cancer battle.
“We was out just being father and son last night, and ended up being in the right place at the right time,” Blanton explained. “At the end of the day, that man’s alive, and that means more than anything out here. Him and his partner.”
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office further reported that deputies were able to arrest four people after the car chase. Among the suspects was a juvenile.
Law enforcement officials stated that the suspects had stolen a vehicle in Gastonia before Officer Taylor and his K-9 Thanos started to chase them.