A South Carolina man has been charged with homicide by child abuse after police say he left his one-year-old daughter in his burning car as he ran from deputies during a traffic stop. Officers tried to pull over 26-year-old Imhotep Osiris Norman for speeding, but he fled at a high rate of speed.
During the chase, the officers noticed that his car was smoking and they called the fire department to meet them at the scene. As Norman's vehicle burst into flames, officers observed Norman throw a bag which contained illegal drugs out of the driver's side window. When the car finally rolled to a stop after a nearly four-mile chase, Norman jumped out of the flaming vehicle and fled on foot.
After firefighters extinguished the car fire, they discovered the body of his one-year-old daughter in the backseat. Officials are conducting an autopsy to determine her exact cause of death.
Officers were eventually able to track Norman down, and he was taken into custody. In addition to the charge of homicide by child abuse, he is also facing counts of failure to stop for a blue light resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute amphetamine.
Police say that Norman was out on bond and had a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to show up to court to face charges of selling drugs in 2018.
Photo: Spartanburg County Detention Center