Woman invites deputy who arrested her to her baby shower, says deputy turned her life around

PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. (FOX 10) -- A Pinal County woman invited an unusual guest to her baby shower.

That unusual guest is the sheriff's deputy who arrested her years ago. The woman, identified only as "Cheyanne", credits the deputy for turning her life around.

In her early 20's, Cheyanne was in and out of jail, and drugs had ruined her life. She gave birth to her first child while she was in prison, and her baby son was taken away from her.

"When I had him, I was able to hold him for 12 hours and they took him," said Cheyanne.

Pinal County Sheriff's Deputy Dan Campbell, meanwhile, was tired of having to arrest Cheyanne over and over again. He told her in 2016 that it was going to be the last time he put her behind bars. Cheyanne was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary, theft, and possession of drugs. After she completed her time, Cheyanne committed herself to staying out of jail.

"I do want to thank him if he didn't intervene, I wouldn't be here right now," said Cheyanne, in a video.

Three years after Deputy Campbell took Cheyanne into custody, Deputy Campbell received an invitation from Cheyanne, who wanted him to attend her baby shower. Now pregnant with her second child, a girl, Cheyanne reflects back on the turning point of her life, and credits Deputy Campbell for her sobriety.

"If she hadn't been incarcerated, she wouldn't be here," said Deputy Campbell.

Nowadays, Cheyanne is proud of ending the cycle of getting high and getting arrested. She has a deep appreciation for her freedom, and the chance to raise her kids. Deputy Campbell is applauding her courage, and he says too often, he responds to overdose calls that turn deadly. He is glad Cheyanne was not one of those calls.