New Jersey officers break into apartment to help mom who gave birth alone

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Wednesday, March 13, 2019
New Jersey officers break into apartment to help mom who gave birth alone
Toni Yates shares the story of the NJ officers who came to the rescue to help a woman give birth inside her apartment.

LYNDHURST, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police officers in New Jersey came to the rescue when a woman gave birth inside her apartment.

When officers with the Lyndhurst Police Emergency Squad arrived outside Tuesday, the new mother was in too much pain to move.

"The pains intensified so I was on the phone with my husband and said, 'I think you need to come and get me and take me to the doctor," Delia Sumner said.

Sumner was home alone, so officers forced their way in and found her kneeling against her bed.

Her newborn baby, Malichi, was lying on his back on the bedroom floor.

When officers called the baby's father, Michael Roberts, he said he was stuck on Route 3 because he ran out of gas.

"The next thing I knew I was going down the wrong highway so I come around and by the time I come around to the right highway, I had run out of gas," Roberts said.

He got the attention of a good Samaritan who drove him home to the apartment.

"He pulled over and said 'Are you OK?' and I said, 'No, I ran out of gas, my wife is having a baby," Roberts said.

The group of responding officers and EMTs were there at the right time and made sure everyone was OK.

The mother and baby were taken to the hospital and are both doing well.

Roberts said he was so frantic, he doesn't remember the good Samaritan's name who picked him up and he hopes the man will come forward so he can properly thank him.

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