CABARRUS COUNTY, North Carolina — What began as a routine traffic stop for speeding turned into a life-changing moment for one North Carolina mother. Katelyn Ricchini says her encounter with Deputy Shawn Singleton of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office earlier this year helped her stay sober and gave her a renewed outlook on life.
Bodycam Captured a Tense but Transformative Encounter
The incident, recorded on bodycam footage in March, showed Deputy Singleton pulling over Ricchini after clocking her driving 61 mph in a 45 zone. What started as a tense exchange quickly shifted after Ricchini revealed her struggles with anxiety, sobriety, and past trauma with law enforcement.
Singleton ultimately issued only a warning ticket and asked if Ricchini was okay. Through tears, she shared that she had recently moved to North Carolina to escape an abusive relationship and was fighting to regain custody of her young son. The deputy then offered a hug, which she accepted.
“I never hugged a cop before,” Ricchini said, later explaining the moment gave her strength to keep fighting.
From Despair to Sobriety
Ricchini later revealed she had been on the verge of giving up that day. “I was actually on my way to probably do something that wasn’t in my best interest,” she told local news…