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Victim says Wildwood commissioner messaged her 'I'm going to take your life and mine'

A Wildwood commissioner was arrested after he was accused of threatening to kill a woman and then himself.
Robert Strickland’s accuser said she's endured physical and verbal abuse for nearly eight years, until Strickland was arrested at a church.
According to the arrest report, Strickland claimed that he was so angry with the woman, he beat his children.
Authorities said Strickland wrote in a text: "I just beat my sons with a baton because of my anger towards you. I don't want your gift of freedom.”
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said the commissioner was out of town when he sent threatening messages to the woman.
The victim said Strickland messaged her: “When I get back, I'm going to take your life and mine."
When she threatened to call law enforcement, he wrote: "Good. Prepare to have me arrested in front of the kids. That will be super, and they better be there when I get there," authorities said.
The woman called and reported the threats to Sumter County deputies.
She also told them about previous problems, claiming that Strickland attacked her.
The report said, he was "choking her, dragging her across a concrete porch, kicking her, punching and pushing her in the shoulder."
The woman also said her vehicle had been keyed and “he chased after her in his car at a high rate of speed, in anger."
She also said Strickland threatened to kill her and the “people she loves."
When deputies went to talk to Strickland, they said he refused to cooperate and was arrested.
"I was totally shocked," said city manager Bill Cannon. "I have notified the rest of the commission and the mayor, because none of them were aware."
Cannon also contacted the city attorney, who he said will instruct officials on what the city is required to do.
No one answered the door at the commissioner’s home.
Channel 9 also contacted the governor’s office to find out if Strickland will be able to keep his seat, but no one has responded.

Cox Media Group

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