New Jersey trooper stops retired officer who helped deliver him

June 6 (UPI) -- A New Jersey state trooper was unexpectedly reunited with a retired police officer who helped his mother deliver him 27 years ago.

Trooper Michael Patterson stopped Matthew Bailly for a minor motor vehicle violation on Friday when the two men struck up a conversation, New Jersey State Police wrote on Facebook.

Bailly revealed he used to work as a police officer in Patterson's hometown of Piscataway and told the story of an instance in which he helped deliver a baby outside a home there as a rookie officer.

He went on to describe the color and style of house in detail and said the baby's name was Michael.

A stunned Patterson extended his hand and told Bailly he was the baby the retired officer delivered on Oct. 5, 1991.

"My name is Michael Patterson, sir. Thank you for delivering me," he said.

Bailly responded to a call that Patterson's mother, Karen Patterson, barely made it home after going into labor while out shopping.

Patterson's father, Bobby Patterson, called a doctor who walked Bailly through the procedure and the future trooper was safely delivered.

After the chance encounter, Patterson and his mother visited Bailly and his wife at his home and the two posed for pictures nearly three decades after the emergency delivery.

"Needless to say, Trooper Patterson, Matthew Bailly, and both of their families were ecstatic about the reunion," the state police said.