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Fort Worth Police Officer Arrested, Accused Of Assaulting Wife

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A Fort Worth police officer has been arrested and released on bond. Corporal Lawrence Blanchard is accused of assaulting his wife last month.

During the confrontation in Arlington, Blanchard allegedly drew his police baton, emptied his service weapon and shouted at the woman.

According to court documents, Blanchard also spit at his wife and yelled at her that she was a prostitute. Blanchard also allegedly twisted his wife's wrist, claiming that he could break it and said he would kill the woman. The incident allegedly occurred in front of the couple's 4-year-old son and three other children.

The victim captured more than 30 minutes of audio during the confrontation on her cell phone.

When interviewed Blanchard told Arlington detectives that he indeed had an argument with his wife concerning their children, but denied assaulting the woman. The 51-year-old officer went on to say that he only got his gun "because he was trying to get his valuable police items so the victim would not hide or damage" them.

In addition to admitting to some of the allegations against him, Blanchard also told detective during the interview that he had already submitted his paperwork to retire to the Fort Worth Police Department.

Blanchard was charged with assault bodily injury to a family or household member and later was freed after posting bond. He has been with the Fort Worth Police Department for some 25 year and is now on restricted duty.

In 2011, Blanchard was arrested for getting into a fight with his wife's oldest son. Blanchard and the young man were both charged with misdemeanor assault. That case is still pending.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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