Man Leaves His Girlfriend's Baby Home Alone With A Pit Bull So He Could Go To The Bar

James Irvine, a 41-year-old Palm Coast man, was jailed Saturday morning after he allegedly left his girlfriend's 10-month-old baby in the care of a pit bull so he could drink at a local bar.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Irvine's girlfriend left him in charge of her 10-month-old son Friday night while she was away at work.

After the woman departed the residence, Irvine allegedly placed the child in a room, shut the door and ordered his pit bull to keep watch over the child. He then went to a local bar to drink.

During her shift, the girlfriend called Irvine several times before he finally picked up, told her that he was "watching a game," then hung up on her.

The woman returned home after her shift to find Irvine attempting to enter the residence through a garage door. She also stated that Irvine appeared intoxicated and had urinated on himself.

Irvine allegedly admitted to his girlfriend that he had been out drinking, but claimed that the child was never left alone because the pit bull was watching the baby.

When the girlfriend entered the house, she found the child crying alone in a room with the door shut. The dog was reportedly sitting outside the door.

When police arrived on the scene, Irvine told them that he had been home all night, however, a bartender at a local bar told investigators that she saw Irvine at around 9:30 that night. She also noted that he left without paying his tab.

Irvine was booked into jail and charged with child neglect. He was released after posting $1,500 bail.