GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 31-year-old Grand Rapids man who let his 4-year-old daughter climb through a Blue Bridge railing and stand atop a bridge pillar -- all while raging Grand River flood waters passed below -- is now charged with a misdemeanor.

Hans Eric Jansma is expected to be arraigned May 6 on a charge of fourth-degree child abuse.

Jansma on April 22 was on the Blue Bridge in downtown Grand Rapids when he let his daughter climb out onto a piling. A rope was tied around her waist and Jansma was holding the end of it while standing on the bridge.

WOODTV captured video of the incident.

Jansma was not home late this afternoon and could not immediately be reached for comment.

Jansma's neighbor, Chasity Werner, said she gave Jansma a ride to the Kent County Jail on Friday to get booked into jail. He is free on bond.

She described him as a friendly neighbor and a "great guy," but said she disagreed with his parenting skills regarding the April 22 episode on the bridge.

"I don't think he had the best judgment," she said. "I would never let my kids do that."

She said Jansma doesn't necessarily believe he did anything wrong because the rope was attached to the girl.

"He's not admitted that he's guilty," Werner said.

Fourth-degree child abuse is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

On April 22, the Grand River crested in Grand Rapids at 21.85 feet. It flowed not too far below the decking of the Blue Bridge.

E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison