Woman unexpectedly gives birth in downtown Los Angeles courthouse

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- When Malachi Elkins came into the world at 11:41 a.m. Thursday, he was already two days late.

His mother, Ambermarie Irving-Elkins thought she had plenty of time to go pay a fine at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

"In 30 minutes, my contractions went from fifteen minutes apart down to one minute apart," Irving-Elkins said.

That's when she realized she wouldn't make it to a hospital or even down the hallway.

"I had a few more contractions and one just brought me to my knees," Irving-Elkins said.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies called paramedics, but baby Malachi was calling the shots on his arrival.

"Immediately following laying on her back, she pulls down her trousers because she has on a dress, and I look down and I see the baby's head," Deputy Marquette Oliver said.

At that point, Oliver jumped into midwife mode, a first for the 18-year veteran!

"When I see the head, I'm like, 'Oh my God!' I pull the trousers completely off and I part her legs and I put my hands down to support the baby's head and then following that the remainder of the baby slides onto my hands," Oliver said.

Oliver cleaned the baby off and handed him to his mother.

"Once he was born, everyone was clapping and cheering. There must have been 50 people in the hallway at that time. It was crazy," Irving-Elkins said.

Malachi was born before husband Nom Elkins and the couple's two children could get to the courthouse. They're just grateful the newest addition to their family is healthy and strong.

"I do want to thank them for stepping in and stealing my shine," Nom Elkins joked. "No. Thank you. I'm glad he's here. He's healthy. We're happy. Everything's good."