EXCLUSIVE: LAX police officer arrested for threats against mother of children

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Donna Schaller's heart fell to the floor as she read threatening text messages allegedly sent from the father of her three children early Thursday morning. She feared for her life. He was an LAX police officer and she was the subject of his abuse.

"I was very paranoid leaving the house," Schaller said.

She reported Devin Staten to the Inglewood Police the same day, and they arrested him for allegedly making criminal threats.

Schaller says she filed a restraining order against Staten in October 2013 after alleged domestic abuse she documented in photos.

The restraining order says Staten isn't supposed to carry a gun, but he continued to do so while working as an LAX police officer.

That stopped after Eyewitness News started asking questions.

The airport police issued a statement: "We are investigating the circumstances of his arrest, there is an active personnel investigation. The officer will be placed on administrative leave during the investigation."

Schaller said her relationship with Staten was great when it started in 2006.

"Being in love had me blinded," she said.

But that ended after an argument between them in 2008, when she was arrested for domestic violence. Schaller later pled guilty.

"I just felt pressured there was no way to get out of that," Schaller said.

Eventually, Staten was awarded custody of their kids.

"It was very painful to give birth and for that baby to be taken out of your arms," Schaller said.

Staten was eventually fired as a police officer, when he was accused of child molestation in 2009. The charges were eventually dropped and Staten got his job back.

To others who face abuse, Schaller offers this advice:

"When you're abused the first time just get out of it, because it will continue and it will get worse," she said.