Catching babies little different from catching crooks

Keith Paul

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

Lt. Chris Hoye has faced some scary situations in Las Vegas during his 14 1/2 years with Metro Police, but nothing had him more afraid than what he saw Wednesday.

But the Metro veteran kept his composure and helped to successfully deliver a baby -- in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant.

Hoye was patrolling in the area of Charleston Boulevard and Eastern Avenue about 3 p.m. Wednesday when he spotted a man standing near a truck waving his arms. The man, who could not speak English, was pointing at his truck. Hoye, who doesn't speak Spanish, drove over to the truck and saw a woman lying down on the seat.

"I checked her head and checked her pulse and she was wearing a big shirt," Hoye said. "And then I said, 'Oh my God, she's pregnant.' I mean she was really pregnant. I thought 'Oh my God, I am going to deliver a baby.' "

Hoye, 42, ran back to his police car, called for medical assistance, grabbed a towel and some water, and ran back to the woman. He began to wipe her brow.

"I looked back down and the baby's head was crowning," he said. "I've seen a lot of things on the street but this absolutely scared me."

The woman, who didn't speak English, seemed to have the situation under control even while she was in physical pain, Hoye said.

"I figured the baby was coming no matter what. I thought since I played a little baseball I would catch," said Hoye, who was a catcher and outfielder in the minor league system of the Kansas City Royals about 20 years ago.

Soon after, the paramedics came and loaded the woman onto a stretcher -- but the baby wanted out and wanted out right them.

"Within five minutes in the ambulance nature took its course and a baby boy was born," Hoye said. "Right there in the parking lot of the Carl's Jr., the baby was born."

The mom was taken off to University Medical Center and the father drove to the hospital in the truck. Hoye never got the woman's name; he had to respond to other calls when she left in the ambulance.

Metro officers receive some first aid training when in the academy, but no step-by-step instructions on delivering a baby, said Sgt. Christopher Darcy, a department spokesman.

"I think I'd rather chase a robber than deliver a baby," he said. "I think I know more about chasing a robber than delivering a baby."

Hoye said he wasn't prepared for the baby delivery, but after it was over, he was glad he was there.

"It was a fantastic thing and just being there was great, contributing in a small way," Hoye said. "The mom was great. I was nervous, but she seemed pretty cool. This is one of the highlights of my career."