Suspended Baylor DB Travon Blanchard arrested on assault charge
Months after an investigation into Travon Blanchard began, the Baylor defensive back was arrested Tuesday.
Blanchard, a senior, was suspended indefinitely back in February when it was revealed he was being investigated for domestic violence. The woman involved, who dated Blanchard, said he used physical force against her multiple times between July 2016 and Feb. 2017. She filed a civil protective order against Blanchard and it was granted by a judge Feb. 28.
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The arrest, which took place around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, stems from an alleged Feb. 4 incident. A misdemeanor assault charge was formally filed late last week.
According to an affidavit to support the protective order, Blanchard was eating dinner in a restaurant in Stafford with the woman when a waiter asked if he knew the woman. Blanchard reportedly became “very upset and he began verbally abusing” the woman, the affidavit states.
The woman did not feel comfortable and decided to leave the restaurant, and Blanchard followed her, according to the affidavit. He pulled and squeezed the woman’s hand, breaking her finger and cutting one finger “to the point where she was unable to have it stitched,” according to the affidavit.
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After Blanchard’s arrest, Baylor released the following statement:
“Travon Blanchard was suspended from all team activities immediately after learning of allegations made against him in February. That status has not changed and he has had no involvement with the program since that time. The university is aware of the arrest made today in connection with the previous allegations against Blanchard and will monitor the developments of this charge for any additional decision regarding his affiliation as a student-athlete.”
Blanchard, 22, was fourth on the Bears with 73 tackles in 2016 and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2015. He is still listed on the team’s roster. Earlier Tuesday at Big 12 Media Days, first-year head coach Matt Rhule said Blanchard would remain suspended “until a university inquiry or anything legal happens.”
“There’s really been no change in his status,” Rhule said per the Tribune. “If at some point those things are finalized or if any new information comes along, we’ll make a decision then.”
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Blanchard’s arrest is the latest in a slew of off-field incidents involving Baylor football players amid the scandal at the school.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
