along I-5 during rush hour

A Washington State Patrol trooper assisted in delivering a baby during the Jan. 30 morning rush hour on the Interstate 5 exit to Airport Way near Boeing Field.

The mother, Wendy Neba, and the father, Magin Rodriguez, both of Burien, named their baby girl Alexa.

At 8:39 a.m., the trooper working patrol on I-5 exited to Airport Way and pulled onto the right shoulder to complete some paperwork.

He then observed a 2000 Toyota 4Runner pull to the left shoulder of the exit. The driver, who quickly got out of the Toyota and ran to the passenger side of his Toyota, spotted the trooper and motioned that he needed help.

The driver was hysterical and extremely expressive in his arm movements, according to the trooper, who ran to the Toyota where he could hear a woman screaming loudly.

She was reclined in her seat, giving birth to the baby girl at that moment. The trooper helped place the baby on the mother's lap and assisted the infant and her mother until Tukwila Fire Department units arrived.

The mother and child were transported to a local hospital in good condition.

This was the third childbirth state troopers have assisted in recent months.

Arson fire damages home

An arson fire near South 130th Street and 23rd Avenue South in SeaTac displaced four occupants of a residence on Jan. 23.

They were not injured and were assisted by the Red Cross.

The fire caused an estimated $120,000 in damages.

SeaTac police and King County fire investigators were searching for a known suspect last week.

SeaTac, Tukwila and North Highline firefighters extinguished the blaze.

'Job seeker' robs woman

On Jan. 19, a man asking to do yard work contacted an elderly SeaTac homeowner.

After being invited in, he pushed her to the floor and took her wallet containing cash and credit cards.

Police remind homeowners to not agree to any home repair unless the person is known by the homeowner or was called to do the work.

Check that the firm is registered with the state Department of Labor and Industries and has a local business license by calling the city of SeaTac's Finance Department.

Driver cut out of SUV

A man had to be cut out of his seatbelt after the sports utility vehicle he was driving hit and sheared off a power pole at South 186th Street and 8th Avenue South in SeaTac on Jan. 25.

Power lines draped over the vehicle. The engine compartment also caught fire.

Police officers reported the man was incapacitated by alcohol at the time.

Compiled by Ralph Nichols