Last Saturday in Elkton, a routine traffic stop turned into a split-second life-or-death scramble when a panicked driver pulled up and begged for help for a choking infant. Within moments, Trooper First Class Nicholas Warren had the baby out of the car, the airway cleared, and the child breathing again.
The rescue unfolded on Feb. 14 at about 9:44 a.m. on Walnut Drive, where Warren, a seven-year veteran assigned to the Maryland State Police North East Barrack, had been conducting a traffic stop. Another vehicle suddenly pulled alongside, and a driver shouted, “We need help. My baby is choking,” according to FOX 28. The dramatic seconds that followed were captured on Warren’s body-worn camera and released by state police this week.
Body camera footage shows Warren taking the infant from the vehicle and administering firm back blows until the obstruction dislodged and the baby began breathing again, CBS Baltimore reported. Emergency Medical Services arrived shortly afterward to evaluate the child.
Video Captures Swift, Calm Response
In the video released with the department’s statement, Warren moves quickly but stays strikingly calm. The footage shows him securing the infant, delivering first aid, and then waiting as the baby gasps and starts breathing before medics pull up on scene. That clip, along with photos from the roadside rescue, appears in coverage by FOX 28.
State Police Credit Training And Composure
In a news release, Maryland State Police said “the swift actions, training, and composure demonstrated by Trooper First Class Warren are credited with preventing what could have been a tragic outcome,” as reported by CBS Baltimore. The agency also noted that Warren is assigned to the North East Barrack and has seven years of service with the department, experience that appears to have paid off in a high-pressure moment.
First Aid In The Gap Before Medics Arrive
Local reporting points to other recent incidents in Maryland where officers provided emergency aid before paramedics could reach the scene, underscoring how training and quick action can make all the difference in those first crucial minutes, as documented by CBS Baltimore. Departments say these medical responses are baked into routine emergency training for many patrol officers, who often end up as the first ones on scene.
In this case, Emergency Medical Services evaluated the infant on site, and the child appeared to recover once the blockage was cleared, according to local coverage by WMAR2 News. Maryland State Police have not released additional health updates but publicly praised Warren’s actions in their statement.
