A routine traffic stop in Melvindale turned into a life-changing moment when a police officer helped deliver a baby on the side of the road in the early morning hours of Friday, November 7.

Watch Faraz's report in the video player below Melvindale police officer delivers baby during traffic stop with brother's help over radio

Just before 2 a.m., Melvindale Police Officer Al Hasan pulled over a speeding vehicle at Oakwood and Wood. The driver was rushing his wife, 45-year-old Maria, to the hospital as she was in active labor.

"My fear was something is going to happen to my girl or me," Maria said. She asked that her last name not be used.

Officer Hasan called for backup, and Corporal Mohamed Hacham quickly arrived at the scene. Hacham immediately recognized that time was running out.

"She is just breathing heavy, panicking," Hacham said.

The dispatcher made a critical decision to provide priority medical assistance over the radio, meaning Hacham would need to deliver the baby himself. With nearly three years on the job, this was Hacham's first delivery.

"I mean the training you receive at the academy, but it's not this," Hacham said.

The voice guiding Hacham through every step belonged to his younger brother at Dearborn Dispatch, which also handles 911 calls for Melvindale. Interim Melvindale Police Chief Chris Egan said the brothers are known as Moe and Joe.

"I need her on the back, and the center of the ground, and I will tell you exactly how to deliver the baby," the dispatcher instructed over the radio.

Body camera footage captured the intense moments as Hacham worked to help Maria, who was unable to get out of the vehicle due to her condition.

"Head is coming out, sir; stay calm," the dispatcher said.

When asked if he remained calm during the delivery, Hacham credited his brother's guidance.

"Hearing him, yes!" Hacham said.

Maria initially felt scared about the situation, but now feels grateful for the officer's help.

"At the time it happened, I was like 'no please, like why?!' But now that I think about it, thank God he helped us," Maria said.

As the baby was successfully delivered, Hacham's first words were a blessing in Arabic: 'Bismillah Ur Rehman Ur Raheem', which means "In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful."

"As an Arab American, a Muslim American, I only know one way to welcome a new life into this world. Plus, what's better than hearing a blessing from God," Hacham said.

Chief Egan noted that Maria, a devout Catholic, also saw divine intervention in the moment.

"Maria said the same thing. She is a devout Catholic, and she said, he was a gift from God," Egan said.

The experience changed Maria's perspective on police officers.

"For me, when you see a police officer, you always think it's something bad. But this time it was something good. They were very respectful. I remember one of the officers saying to block the view," Maria said.

This marks the second time Hacham has been involved in a life-saving situation. In 2023, while off duty, he saved a 3-year-old toddler from choking after hearing the call over the radio.

Related: Watch the story from 2023 Off-duty police officer jumps into action to save a neighbor's choking child

Both Maria and her daughter, Galilea, are now home and healthy. Maria said the parking lot at Oakwood and Wood will always remind her that miracles happen.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Signs along Michigan Avenue in Saline Township tell the story of a community split down the middle over a proposed massive data center project. While some residents welcome the development, others are fighting to stop it entirely.

The controversy has intensified as DTE Energy asks state regulators to skip public hearings and fast-track approval for what would be one of Michigan's largest hyperscale data centers. The project is backed by Related Companies, Oracle and OpenAI, with DTE providing the power infrastructure.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below: Data center divides Saline Township as DTE seeks to bypass public hearings

Preston Dyer, a Marine veteran who moved to Saline Township in 2018 seeking peace and quiet, said he's "100% against" the data center planned for land directly behind his property.

"At first, yes, and right now still, but I don't think it's going to stay that way long if they put this center in," Dyer said about finding the serenity he sought when he relocated with his wife and two dogs.

Dyer cited noise pollution from the construction and light pollution from parking areas as major issues. His biggest frustration centers on DTE's request to bypass public hearings.

"I think there should be some kind of hearing on it," Dyer said.

DTE defended its approach in a statement, saying the data center "needs to get shovels in the ground by the beginning of the new year."

"The benefits to our customers, the community, and the state can only come if we proceed quickly," a DTE spokesperson said in a statement. "Given the sizable affordability benefits for our customers, as well as the economic impact the project will have, we think moving forward in this fashion makes sense."

Not all residents oppose the project. Jeff Quick, another Saline Township resident, supports the data center despite having concerns about water usage.

"I don't think the data center is the worst thing that you could have," Quick said. "Jobs it would provide are fine."

According to Related Digital's website, the project promises significant economic benefits including more than 2,500 construction jobs, at least $1.6 million in annual tax revenue through 2039, $8 million for area schools and $2 million to establish a Community Investment Fund.

DTE says the data center will contribute more than $300 million to the electric system, helping finance investments to improve reliability by 30% and cut outage time in half by 2029. The utility company argues that adding large customers helps spread fixed costs more widely, driving greater affordability for all DTE customers.

The Michigan Public Service Commission, which has authority to approve DTE's request to bypass public hearings, declined an interview but noted that "a request for an ex parte hearing is not unusual."

For opponents like Dyer, the potential approval raises concerns about property values and quality of life. When asked what would happen if the data center moves forward, he said he might try to sell his home and move away.

"Property values go down with it here," Dyer said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A mother of four from Holly has turned her small town into a movie set, creating a feature film that premieres this weekend while providing an economic boost to local businesses.

Loretta Bradfield, a Holly resident, wrote the script and produced "Heartbeat of a Drum Horse," a two-hour film starring a rare drum horse named BH Spectacular. The production transformed the village into Hollywood, proving that major studio backing isn't necessary to create a professional film.

Watch Faraz Javed's video report below: Holly mother turns small town into movie set for feature film debut

"He has a face for the camera. He is beautiful, he is talented when we first bought him, I knew there was something really special about him," Bradfield said about the star horse.

The film features 48 actors and includes scenes with barrel racers, mutton busting and drum horses from around the world. Drum horses are a rare breed, making the casting particularly unique.

"It's about breeding, raising baby horses. This movie is a lot about how the family rallied together to really get through a couple really rough times. And it has a lot of action, a lot of comedy and a lot of drama," Bradfield said.

Director Santiago Cirillo, a 15-year film industry veteran who also plays a minor role, praised the community's support for the production.

"Watching and seeing the neighborhood and the people in the community accepting us and helping us, supporting us, they opened the doors for us and especially to tell Loretta's story," Cirillo said.

The production involved 190 children from a local co-op who appeared as extras, creating massive sets with numerous moving parts to coordinate.

Actors Mary Rose Pasyk from Chicago and Tristan Welsh from Los Angeles found Holly's charm particularly appealing during filming.

"It's been great. I mean, it's beautiful out here. You're out in the open. I live in a suburban area, so I'm not used to all the trees and woods and everything, and it's been really nice," Pasyk said.

Welsh described Holly as feeling "like a movie" and praised the community's hospitality.

"It feels like homey. I'm going to miss the crew, community, the hospitality and I'm just going to miss, you know, the family. Because you always build a family when you show up on set," Welsh said.

The production has provided economic benefits to local businesses, demonstrating how filmmaking can boost small-town economies.

"I'm just some woman who lives in Holly, and I am a mom of four and I have a lot on my plate and somehow, I was able to pull this off," Bradfield said.

Welsh is encouraging others to pursue their dreams with proper support systems.

"Don't be afraid to chase your dreams. And I think a really important aspect of that is surrounding yourself with people who will support you and who will stand beside you while you do it," Welsh said.

The film is now playing in theaters.

To learn more about the movie head to heartbeatofadrumhorse.com.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.