'Shoot any bad guys': Grandpa leaves girl, 5, alone with gun in desert

Paul Armand Rater is accused of leaving his 5-year-old granddaughter alone in the Arizona desert with a loaded handgun to defend herself. Paul Armand Rater is accused of leaving his 5-year-old granddaughter alone in the Arizona desert with a loaded handgun to defend herself. Photo: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 'Shoot any bad guys': Grandpa leaves girl, 5, alone with gun in desert 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

An Arizona man was in jail after he allegedly left his 5-year-old daughter alone in the desert with a loaded and cocked 45-caliber handgun, and told her "shoot any bad guys."

Maricopa County authorities say 53-year-old Paul Armand Rater of Buckeye is being held on suspicion of two counts of child abuse and one count of child endangerment.

Rater took his granddaughter for a ride in his new pickup early Sunday afternoon in the desert outside Buckeye, about 30 miles from Phoenix, but it got stuck. The girl was reported missing four hours later.

Rater says he left the girl under a tree with the pistol when she couldn't walk anymore. He couldn't call for help because he had left his cell phone at home.

"She was given the gun and told to shoot any bad guys," Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio told People. "It's bad enough to leave a 5-year-old in the desert period, but to have that 5-year-old with a weapon (is even worse)."

Rater was found at a restaurant where he had a couple of beers and a cheeseburger, according to the sheriff's office.

"He says his vehicle broke down so he walked several miles to get to this bar," said Arpaio. "But he went there to drink! Not to get help."

A helicopters spotted the girl and she was returned to her mother. State child welfare authorities reportedly were alerted to the case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.