Police: Baby dies after being left in hot car by father

Police are investigating the death of a baby they say was left inside a sweltering car while his father visited a barber shop.

Des Moines officers were called to a hospital just before 8 p.m. Saturday to investigate a suspicious child death, police said in a written news release Sunday. Responding officers said they learned that the 6-month-old infant had died after reportedly being left in a car.

Detectives said they determined that the death had happened outside at a north Des Moines barbershop. Witnesses told police that Lance Williams Sr., 35, had left his infant son unattended in the vehicle while he was in the barbershop "for an extended period of time."

National Weather Service information showed the high temperature in Des Moines on Saturday was 91. If left in the sun, the temperature in the car would have climbed well into the triple digits.

Williams was arrested and charged with child endangerment resulting in death, police said. He remained in the Polk County Jail on Sunday on $25,000 bond. He could not be reached for comment.

Williams' next court appearance has been set for June 22.

It is not clear whether Williams had an attorney on Sunday.

Police have not revealed the name of the baby or other details surrounding his death, but said officials planned to release more information at a later time.