FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. — The company commander of a signal unit has been arrested on manslaughter charges after leaving his executive officer unattended in a parked car Friday, military police confirmed.

Capt. Rick Halset, 30, was apprehended after his Executive Officer, Lt. Carl Higgs, 26, was found dead, still locked inside the vehicle.

Higgs was apparently left in the car outside the post exchange (PX) while Halset went inside to grab a few things. "I told him I'd be right back, I didn't think I needed to leave the car running, I really only meant to be gone a minute," said an obviously distraught Halset.

Bystanders reported the lieutenant had locked himself in the car with the windows up in the blistering Arizona sun. By the time Halset had returned, Higgs had suffered a heat stroke and passed away before base EMS could respond.