Tennessee man allegedly leaves baby inside car in an area with ‘heavy foot traffic and intoxicated individuals.’ Then he’s spotted waiting in line at a bar

A Tennessee father has been accused of leaving his four-month-old daughter alone inside a running car near Nashville’s busy Broadway entertainment district while he apparently waited in line outside a bar. Jordan Hayley, 25, was arrested after police allegedly discovered the child in the vehicle, according to the People.

The Metro Nashville Police Department reportedly said that the officers were outside Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar when they noticed Hayley arguing with a woman in line. The woman was reportedly upset and shouting at him, with both standing close to each other as they exchanged words.

After separating the pair, officers spoke to the woman, who claimed she was worried about her daughter “since he was supposed to take care of her. “She told police she did not know where the child was and identified Hayley as the girl’s father.

The baby was allegedly alone in the car

Hayley reportedly told officers that the woman’s mother was babysitting the child. However, the woman denied that this was possible, according to the police statement. Hayley allegedly continued to maintain his account, prompting officers to detain him and check his vehicle.

Police allegedly found the baby alone in a running car, sitting in a baby seat in the front passenger area and facing the wrong direction. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, the parking lot was next to Broadway’s honky-tonk bars, an area described as having “heavy foot traffic and intoxicated individuals,” making it a case of bad parenting.

Officers purportedly reunited the baby with her mother. They subsequently charged Hayley with felony child neglect involving a child aged eight or younger and a misdemeanor count of leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, according to Davidson County court records.

WSMV reported that Hayley’s bond was set at $5,000 for the child neglect charge and $1,500 for the charge related to leaving the baby in the vehicle. Each state in the U.S. has different penalties for a felony involving child neglect.

According to Justia Law, the Tennessee Law states that any parent or custodian of a child eight years of age or less commits child endangerment if they knowingly expose such child to or knowingly fails to protect such child from abuse or neglect resulting in physical injury or imminent danger to the child and commits a Class E felony. Consequently, it could also affect child custody if evidence proves there was a case of intentional neglect.