Baby found in cold car

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) - Greenwood police say a father locked his baby girl inside a stolen car in near-freezing temperatures on New Year's Day. They say he locked her inside the chilly car so he could go on a shopping spree.

Police said 26-year-old Brandon Ross, of Terre Haute, parked in the Sears parking lot at the Greenwood Park Mall. According to witnesses, Ross was inside the store for 30-45 minutes, leaving his six-month-old baby girl locked inside a car. A shopper parked next to Ross' car heard the baby crying and called police.

Police said the temperature outside on New Year's Day was about 35 degrees. They found the baby in the back seat of the car with the window open about one inch.

Officers had to jimmy the door open to get the baby out. According to the probable cause affidavit, her hands were freezing cold. The affidavit goes on to say the car smelled like marijuana. It said police found pot and a glass pipe in the front seat.

Police said, initially, Ross was nowhere to be found, so they took the baby to the hospital. Reports say the baby had severe diaper rash resulting in significant redness and blistering. A short time later Ross emerged from the mall and police arrested him.

The infant is in foster care.

Ross is being held in the Johnson County Jail on $17,000 bond. He's facing numerous charges including neglect of a dependent resulting in injury, possession of marijuana and possession of stolen property.