The child was in the care of the man at a residence in Toms River, police said.
TOMS RIVER -- A New Brunswick man was arrested last week after police say he purposefully burned the face of a 6-year-old child with a lighter.
Kareem Hayes, 36, of New Brunswick. (Ocean County Jail)Kareem Hayes, 36, faces charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, Toms River police announced in a news release.
The incident occurred at a residence in the township while Hayes was looking after the child, police said.
The child suffered second- and third-degree burns to the face, neck and ear, police said. Hayes was arrested on Nov. 29 following a joint investigation by the Toms River Police Department and Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's Special Victims Unit, police said.
He is being held in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.