Photo: LAPD Officer Clinton Popham holds the child. Credit: LAPD

In one arm, she held a 4-month-old infant. The other hand wielded a knife.

As traffic sped by on 7th Street just west of Hope Street early Tuesday, several Los Angeles police officers surrounded Malika Johnson, 33, but the volatile nature of the situation demanded calm.

"As we got closer and closer, she was yelling 'My baby, don't get any closer to me,' " said LAPD Officer Christopher Green. "She held the knife up about a foot or so away from the baby. With any sudden movement, the baby is right there. It could have gone sideways really fast."

So instead Green, a 19-year police veteran, began talking to Johnson and telling her that the officers were there to help, while urging her to put away the knife. As he kept repeating the message, officers Arthur Gonzalez and Clinton Popham began looking for any opportunity to disarm Johnson or grab the infant.

Seven minutes into the incident, they got their opportunity. Johnson walked toward an alcove of a business, where she placed the baby on the ground and then squatted next to it while again brandishing the knife.

As she did, one of the other officers approached her from her blind side.

Gonzalez grabbed Johnson's wrists. Popham grabbed the baby.

Johnson was booked on suspicion of child endangerment -- her fourth arrest for the same offense since 2004, said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon.

The baby girl, whose identity was not immediately clear, was unhurt and placed in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Detectives asked anyone with information to contact police.