Iowa City man charged with child endangerment

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man faces a child endangerment charge for dropping his child while under the influence of pot and alcohol.

According to an Iowa City Police Department criminal complaint, on Dec. 1, 2013, the child's mother took him to Mercy Iowa City where it was determined the boy suffered a bodily injury earlier in the day. Police said the injury occurred when the boy's father, 36-year-old James P. Caldwell was changing his diaper.

It was eventually learned that Caldwell was under the influence of pot and alcohol during the diaper change, which caused him to drop the boy. Police said the accident likely wouldn't have occurred had Caldwell been sober.

Police said Caldwell and his wife have been compliant with both police and the Department of Human Resources since the incident. Additionally, Caldwell and his wife maintain he has been sober since the incident.

Caldwell was arrested Friday and faces one count of child endangerment causing bodily injury, a Class D felony. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.