'I know God put me there': Police officer saves newborn baby that stopped breathing

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (CNN Newsource/WPXI/WKRC) - A Pennsylvania couple was desperate for help when their baby stopped breathing. They say they were able to flag down an officer who took action and saved the baby's life.

"I just thought, 'I have to help this baby,'” said Pleasant Hills Officer Kristin Mitrisin.

There are times you can't help but wonder how you manage to be at the right place at the right time -- that was the case for Ofc. Mitrisin, last Saturday.

"I just know that God put me there that day,” said Ofc. Mitrisin.

Before Joe Schleicher noticed Mitrisin, he was on his way to a children’s hospital because his 9-day old baby was fussy. On the way there, his wife noticed something was terribly wrong with baby Olivia.

"She said, 'She's not breathing. She's not breathing. I have to get her out of the car seat,' and we were sitting at a red light at that point,” Schleicher said.

"I heard beeping next to me. I saw a male driver waving to me. I put down the window,” said Mitrisin.

"I said, 'My baby's not breathing,'” said Schleicher.

Officer Mitrisin told them to pull into a lot along Saw Mill Run Boulevard.

"I took the baby out of the car and basically just put the life in the cop’s hands,” said Schleicher.

"Put the baby on the tailgate of the truck. Started doing press compressions,” said Mitrisin.

Then a bystander jumped in to help.

"I asked him, ‘Sir, can you please get the AED out of my car? It's in the backseat.’ He said, ‘Yes, I'm a corrections officer. I’ll help you,’” said Ofc. Mitrisin.

The machine analyzed baby Olivia and minutes later.... "It was the best cry I ever heard,” said Ofc. Mitrisin.

Olivia is at Children’s Hospital now. She has a heart condition and will need surgery.

"She saved my baby's life. I'm very thankful. Words can't even explain how I feel and how thankful I am,” said Schleicher.

Officer Mitrisin is always helping others, but on this day, it really hit home.

"I’m a mother of two children so I would hope someone could help me,” Mitrisin said.

"If the officer would be willing to meet the baby and meet up with us after she comes out of the hospital that's something we'd definitely be interested in,” Schleicher said.