A police officer who persuaded a pregnant homeless woman he busted using heroin to let him adopt her unborn child has revealed that she is now 40 days sober.
Officer Ryan Holets, 27, came across an eight-month pregnant Crystal Champ and her partner shooting up heroin when he was on patrol in Albuquerque, New Mexico last September.
The father of five made headlines a few months later when it was revealed that he and his wife Rebecca had officially adopted the baby girl named Hope after Crystal gave birth.
In addition to adopting Hope, Holets took it upon himself to raise money to help Crystal and her partner Tom Key get off the streets and rid themselves of their drug addiction.
Albuquerque police officer Ryan Holets and his wife Rebecca adopted a baby from a homeless drug addict he found last year shooting up heroin. They are pictured above at President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday
Holets, who was praised by President Trump at his State of the Union address on Tuesday, told CNN this week that Crystal and Tom are now roughly 40 days sober.
‘I lose track of time with everything that’s going on… I was recently talking to Crystal on the phone and she was saying she’s excited because their 40 days mark is coming up,’ he said.
‘So I don’t know if it’s past 40 days or just about there. But 40 days sober, that’s incredible.
Holets said he always had faith that they would get to this point and that they plan to let Crystal see her biological child.
‘At this point, as they are in recovery, we’re sending them pictures we’re giving them updates,’ Holets said.
‘We want them to be able to continue to see her and be in their life. I think she’s going to know how much they loved her. And that’s never going to be in question.’
Holets came across an eight-month pregnant Crystal Champ and her partner Tom Key as they were shooting up heroin when he was on patrol in Albuquerque, New Mexico last September
The officer made headlines a few months later when it was revealed that he and his wife Rebecca had officially adopted the baby girl named Hope after Crystal gave birth
Holets says Crystal and Tom are now roughly 40 days sober after they were admitted to a live-in rehabilitation center for drug treatment
Holets first encountered Crystal and Tom behind a convenience store in Albuquerque when he was responding to a possible theft.
He spotted the pair sitting on the grass shooting up heroin in broad daylight.
‘You’re going to kill your baby,’ Holets could be heard saying on his bodycam. ‘Why do you have to be doing that stuff? It’s going to ruin your baby.’
When Crystal told him that she had hoped someone would adopt her unborn child, Holets showed her a picture of his wife and their four children before offering to raise the baby for her.
Crystal gave birth to the little girl on October 12.
Holets said baby Hope had to suffer through detoxing and withdrawals and even endured methadone treatment after her birth.
Holets said baby Hope had to suffer through detoxing and withdrawals and even endured methadone treatment after her birth
Holets said he always had faith that they would get to this point and that they plan to let Crystal see her biological child
In December, Holets said Crystal and Tom had finally agreed to get help from a live-in rehabilitation center came forward and donated their services after hearing of their plight.
Holets set up a GoFundMe page that he is in charge of to raise money for 12 months worth of housing and living expenses once Crystal and Tom finish their treatment.
During President Trump’s address on Tuesday, he recalled Holets story and praised him for ‘breaking down walls between drug addicts and police officers to help save lives.’
‘As we have seen tonight, the most difficult challenges bring out the best Americans,’ Trump said.
‘Ryan and Rebecca, you embody the best of our nation. Thank you.’
Holets, his wife Rebecca and baby Hope were special guests at Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. They were seated directly next to Melania and got a standing ovation
If you know someone who might like this, please click “Share!”