WARREN, Mich. – Police in Warren made a split-second decision in hopes of saving a baby’s life, but on Monday, some felt their call to rush a baby to a hospital was not the best choice.
The baby did not survive. Nothing indicates that would have changed.
Everyone wanted to save this baby. Warren EMS told Local 4 they wanted that chance at the scene and in the ambulance. Police say their officers made the call to not wait for EMS and rush the baby to the hospital.
The critical call went out to first responders in Warren on Saturday morning. Warren police got to the baby first, and in about 35 seconds, you could hear an officer with the baby make the call.
The police officers decided they must transport the baby in their squad car to Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital. Dispatchers had to tell the approaching EMS crew that police had already taken the baby to the hospital.
The EMS crew said they were unsure where to go, either to the scene or to the hospital. EMS believes they could have done more for the baby at the scene, and then on the way to the hospital in the ambulance.
Police say their timeline shows the officers got the baby in two minutes, and then arrived at the hospital in another two minutes.
Here’s the timeline provided:
- 9:38:71 -- 911 call
- 9:38:55 -- Police dispatched
- 9:40:24 -- Police arrive at scene in Warren
- 9:40:59 -- Police on way to hospital
- 9:41:02 -- EMS and fire were en route
- 9:42:52 -- Police/baby arrive at hospital
The cause of the baby’s death is still under investigation. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Additional details have not been provided at this time.
Editor’s note: This story originally reported the baby died in the squad car on the way to the hospital. That was incorrect. We have made a correction and the current article reflects the changes.