Captain with Midlands fire department arrested, charged with domestic violence, kidnapping
A West Columbia man who’s served with the Lexington County fire department for nearly a decade was arrested and charged with domestic violence and kidnapping after police said he strangled a woman.
Robert Blanton II, 38, who was serving as a captain with the Lexington County Fire Service, was placed on administrative leave after police said he assaulted a woman and refused to let her leave their home.
According to a Lexington County Sheriff’s Department incident report, Blanton discovered a water bottle with dip spit in the trashcan while at home with the woman Jan. 13. The report did not identify her as his wife, but said Blanton accused her of being “unfaithful in their marriage” during the confrontation, which then escalated as he grabbed her from a chair and threw her onto another one.
The woman told police Blanton strangled her and pushed her head into the ground so hard that, at one point, she temporarily lost the ability to hear in her right ear. Blanton refused to allow her to leave, the woman told police, and continued to throw her phone away so that she couldn’t contact anyone. Once she was finally able to reach her phone and contact police, the incident report detailed that they found bruising and swelling on her arms and face.
Blanton, who has been with the county’s fire service since March 2015, according to his Linkedin, is still employed with the county, but is on administrative leave, a spokesperson for the county confirmed. The county declined to comment further.
Blanton is charged with domestic violence in the first degree and kidnapping. He was taken to the Lexington County Detention Center following his arrest.
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 12:57 PM.
