Baby Delivered By Hillsborough Deputy On Side Of Road, 3rd Baby In His Career

PLANT CITY, FL — While delivering babies wasn't specified in his job description, Hillsborough County sheriff's Master Deputy Daniel "Red" Jones swore to protect and service, and, in his case, serving means delivering a baby for the third time while on duty.

On Sunday, Jones successfully delivered a healthy baby girl in a car on the side of the road.

Jones was on patrol along State Road 60 in Plant City when he was approached by a frantic man who told him his wife was about to give birth.

The father-to-be was driving his wife to the hospital when his wife groaned that the baby wasn't going to wait to be born in a delivery room. He pulled over to the shoulder of the road and flagged down Jones.

Jones immediately called Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, put on some disposable gloves and began assisting the mother who was in active labor in the front seat of the car.

While calming and encouraging the new mom, Jones used his sheriff's office first aid training and previous experience delivering babies.

Holding the mother's hand, he can be heard on his body-worn camera telling the mother, "She's ready to go, breathe through, mama, breathe through."

He then asked her if this was her first baby. When she tells him it's her sixth, Jones lightens the tense moment, telling the couple, "Y'all need a better hobby."

In the background, trucks and motorcycles can be heard speeding by while Jones tells the father that he doesn't want to move the mother because the baby's arrival is imminent. Moments later, Jones holds up the baby girl who begins to cry as if on cue.

"That's a beautiful sound," Jones said. "There's your girl, a pretty little girl."

Hillsborough Fire Rescue arrived moments later and took the mom and her sixth child to the hospital.

"I am extremely proud of Master Deputy Jones's quick actions and dedication to serving our community in any capacity," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "This is his third time assisting a citizen with delivering a baby. While delivering in the front seat of a car was not the original birth plan, Master Deputy Jones reassured the mother of six that she was in good hands. I wish mom, dad and their new baby girl all the joy and happiness."

Jones has been with the sheriff's office since December 2001 and is currently assigned to the District II office at 2310 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa.

While the new parents hadn't yet chosen a name for their sixth child, Jones couldn't resist giving them a suggestion: "Red's a good name."