BALDWIN PARK — Baldwin Park police Capt. Michael Taylor sat down at a restaurant Thursday for a grilled chicken lunch, but ended up saving a toddler’s life, officials and restaurant employees said.
Taylor said he had just gotten up to pay for his meal about 1 p.m. at the El Llano restaurant, 13720 Ramona Blvd., when he noticed a 1-year-old girl choking.
Her family members desperately patted her on the back to try to free the obstruction — a tortilla chip — with no success.
“She was choking to death,” Taylor said. “She was turning blue.”
Restaurant waitress Julie Jimenez said Taylor immediately sprung into action and performed the Heimlich Maneuver.
“I was so scared,” she said. “I was happy he saved the life of the little girl.”
After performing the Heimlich Maneuver, the girl appeared to be doing just fine, Taylor said.
“I felt sorry for the family,” he said. “They seemed pretty shaken up by the whole thing.”
Taylor added he did not tell the “very grateful” family he was a police officer.
Jimenez said she was glad to have Taylor as a regular customer of the restaurant.
“I feel we need more people like that,” she said. “I’m very glad that I know Capt. Mike.”
Thursday’s incident was not the first time Taylor has rescued a choking stranger at a Baldwin Park restaurant, Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano said.
“It doesn’t surprise me, since I’ve seen it once before,” the mayor said of the rescue.
About five years ago, Taylor was having lunch with Lozano at another Baldwin Park restaurant when Taylor noticed a man choking and performed the Heimlich Maneuver, Lozano said.
The mayor added he was amazed by how quickly Taylor reacted to the situation.
“The guy thanked him, and it was amazing,” Lozano said. “He told me that it comes with the job.”
Taylor said he also once had to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on his own toddler son more than 20 years ago when he choked on a cracker.
The captain encouraged all parents to take a class in basic life-saving procedures, such as the Heimlich Maneuver.
“I’m glad I picked that restaurant to have lunch (Thursday),” Taylor said. “Sometimes, there’s a reason for things.”