Tiny Traffic Stopper

Huntington Beach Police Officer Victoria Shroyer was in the midst of writing a traffic ticket Thursday when a frantic father-to-be pulled up, screaming that his wife was about to have a baby.

The officer called paramedics while her two male colleagues carried Magdalena Salas, 28, out of her car and laid her down on the sidewalk at Beach Boulevard near McFadden Avenue.

“I had her husband lay a towel under her, and I said, ‘I guess I have to look now,’ “Shroyer said. “We told her to relax and breathe, and her husband was telling her to relax . . . then the little girl’s head pops out, and I thought, ‘Oh no, the baby’s coming out!’ ”

Shortly after midnight, a healthy, 7-pound baby girl was born in Shroyer’s arms.

Paramedics soon arrived and took mother and child to Western Medical Center-Anaheim, where both were doing fine.

And what did Shroyer do after paramedics pulled away from the curb?

She returned to the 17-year-old driver she had pulled over for speeding and finished writing the ticket. She decided, though, to cite him simply for driving without a license.

“I told him I’d give him a break this time,” she said.

That motorist could not be reached for comment. But Salas, speaking later from her hospital bed, was extremely grateful.

“The lady that helped me was real nice. I want to say thank you to her,” Salas said.

Shroyer, 34, a three-year veteran of the Huntington Beach Police Department and a former Los Angeles police officer, admitted being nervous even though she had a bit of experience in this area: She had participated in the hospital birth of her nephew.

She downplayed her role in it all but said she also felt proud.

“Actually, it’s great,” Shroyer said. “I didn’t think it was a big deal, but now everyone’s calling me, saying, ‘Hey, Dr. Shroyer.’ ”

Meanwhile, Salas and her husband, Augostine Jaramillo, said they are considering “Victoria” as one of the baby’s names, in honor of Shroyer.