PHOENIX — A Valley father has been taken into custody on suspicion of negligently not watching his 7-month-old son as the child was drowning in a bathtub, records show.
Sione Pulotu, 37, was arrested Wednesday by police after his son was rushed to the hospital following a drowning incident at the family's home near 27th and Southern avenues in south Phoenix.
Police were dispatched to the family's residence Tuesday afternoon and Pulotu allegedly told investigators he was bathing his son before dropping him off with a relative, court records show.
After placing the child in a baby bathtub, Pulotu told police he left the room to play video games. He alleged that he could hear the child playing in the water.
Upon re-entering the bathroom, the father reported finding his child facedown in the water and attempted to revive him. Court records show Pulotu allegedly told police he believed he was playing video games for about 10 minutes before discovering the child.
He allegedly told police he knew how dangerous it is to leave a child unattended in a bathtub. Pulotu was booked into the Maricopa County jail.
The child's cause of death is currently listed as "pending" on the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's website.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
We are committed to serving all of the Valley's communities, because we live here, too.
12News is the Official Home of the Arizona Cardinals and the proud recipient of the 2018 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Overall Excellence.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.