GILBERT, AZ — Police in Gilbert have arrested a man in connection with the September death of his 3-year-old daughter who was left unattended in a car for hours.
They announced Tuesday that there was probable cause established to arrest 37-year-old Scott Jones on suspicion of negligent homicide.
Polcie say their investigation wrapped up this week, thus the arrest now.
Police say Jones is accused of leaving his daughter Charlotte in a vehicle at his home for two to three hours on Sept. 3, resulting in her death. The girl was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police say Jones was arrested, processed and released Tuesday and their investigation of the incident will be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for review and charging recommendations.
Judy Rott lives nearby and is trying to wrap her head around the September tragedy that unfolded just outside her home.
Rott says the girl's father had dropped off his two older daughters at school before heading home with the 3-year-old.
“I don’t know what alerted him that he left her in the car, but our neighbor was sitting on the back porch and heard him scream and she ran over and tried to give CPR cause he had pulled her out of the car."
Another neighbor, a nurse, also attempted to save the little girl's life, but there was nothing they could do.
Rott and other neighbors describe the couple as incredibly loving and caring parents. “They are super nice, sweet young couple, just making a living, trying to raise a family. I just don’t know how they’ll cope with this,” said Rott.
Neighbors say the girl's mother works as a correctional officer for the Florence State Prison. She apparently got a call at work and raced to the hospital.
Authorities won't discuss case specific details, so it's unclear what their investigation revealed and why Gilbert police decided to arrest Jones.
