A Bridgeport man, charged in connection to the death of an infant found in a motel bathtub, was arraigned in Milford Superior Court Thursday where the judge called the allegations against him “about as serious as you can get” and set bond at $1 million.

Dale Kirkland, 31, is charged with risk of injury to a child and cruelty to persons in the death of an infant girl who Milford police believe was 3- to 6-months old. Police would not confirm the relationship between Kirkland and the baby, but family court records show that a few weeks ago, Kirkland filed for custody of his almost 4-month-old daughter.

Police said officers responded to the Mayflower Motel on Woodmont Road just after 11 a.m. Wednesday after a staff member went to clean a vacated room. “As she was in the room, she noticed there was some baby items left behind, and as she proceeded to clean the room, she found an infant in the bathtub,” PFC Brianna MacDonald told News 12.

Police said first responders attempted life-saving measures on scene, but the infant was pronounced dead at the hospital. During the investigation, they learned the room she was found in had been registered to Kirkland. “Reviewing video surveillance, we found that he did check in with an infant on August 20, and he checked out yesterday morning and left the room without the said child,” MacDonald said.

The search for Kirkland ended Wednesday evening when he was spotted walking in Bridgeport. He was arrested without issue, according to MacDonald. During his arraignment, Assistant State's Attorney Alanna Paul said Kirkland left the motel in, what the state views, was a disguise. “The defendant was the last person to see that child alive, was the last person near that child,” Paul said, adding that the case is still under investigation and more charges are likely. Kirkland's public defender requested a competency evaluation for his client, mental health treatment and that he be put on suicide watch.

Kirkland has no criminal history. He’s been in Connecticut for nine months and working at FedEx, a bail commissioner said in court. The warrant for his arrest has been sealed for 14 days.

An autopsy was conducted on the infant Thursday, but the cause of death is still pending.

According to police, support is being offered to first responders who were at the motel, along with those personally affected by the child’s death. “We've kind of just been leaning on each other and we have K-9 Winston, who's our therapy dog, who responded out to the scene right away and assisted with comforting our officers, the staff at the motel that was involved, as well as some of the family and friends of the victim,” MacDonald said.

Police are not commenting on the infant’s mother. A group of women attended Kirkland’s arraignment but declined to identify themselves to reporters.

Kirkland is due back in court on Aug. 28.