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Trooper

Michael Todd Blanton

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 29, 2003

Age 29

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 150 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 51

Incident

Trooper Michael Blanton was killed after stopping a driver suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol on the Gaskins Road exit ramp from I-64.

He was reaching inside the suspect's car when the driver sped off, dragging him for several hundred yards before crashing. The car rolled over, pinning Trooper Blanton underneath. Trooper Blanton was transported to MCV Hospital, where he later died.

The suspect was apprehended a short time later by Henrico County police officers, who found him running on a nearby road. The suspect was charged with capital murder, felony hit-and-run, and other charges.

On September 27, 2003, the suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and eluding a police officer but was acquitted of abduction. He was sentenced to 56 years in prison.

Trooper Blanton was a United States Air Force veteran who served with the Virginia State Police for five years and previously served with the Henrico County Sheriff's Department for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and 6-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-0805350F
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Michael is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Blanton gave the Virginia State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Virginia State Police

Type State Police

Location North Chesterfield, VA

Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 29, 2003

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Vehicular assault

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Military Service

Michael Todd Blanton served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Michael Todd Blanton is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Virginia State Police, 19 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.5% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Police

of 52 officers

36.5% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 655 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious