Father Accused of Leaving Daughter in Running Car and Going to a Bar in Nashville

A father is accused of leaving his 4-month-old daughter in the front seat of his running car and going to a bar in Nashville.

Jordan Hayley was charged with neglect of a child 8 years old or younger and leaving an unattended child in a motor vehicle, according to court records reviewed by Globe, with bonds set for each charge at $5,000 and $1,500, respectively.

The infant girl was found alone inside the running vehicle parked along Broadway on the morning of Sunday, October 18, after Metro Nashville Police spotted two people engaged in a heated argument outside Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, according to CBS affiliate WTVF.

The argument turned out to be between Hayley, 25, and the baby’s mother, according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by NBC affiliate WSMV. “The female party was screaming at the defendant and he was also exchanging words with her,” police wrote, per the station. “Both were in each other’s faces.”

The woman reportedly told police she confronted Hayley while he was standing in line because she didn’t know where their daughter was and he was supposed to be watching her, per WSMV. The defendant allegedly lied and said the child was with the woman’s mother, but the woman “denied that being possible,” per the report.

Officers proceeded to detain Hayley and take his car keys, per WSMV. They then checked his vehicle, according to the affidavit, where they found the infant in a car seat facing the wrong way in the front seat. Police reported the child was unharmed and returned to her mother’s custody. Hayley was arrested.

The vehicle had been parked near the honky tonk bars on Broadway, per the affidavit, with officers writing the area is “known to be heavily trafficked with disorderly and intoxicated people,” per WSMV.

Hayley’s preliminary court hearing is set for Friday, October 23 at 8:30 a.m.