The 53-year-old, who told the youngster to ‘shoot any bad guys,’ was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment after the incident occurred on Sunday night.
Sherriff Joe Arpaio confirmed that the girl had been found in the desert holding the powerful pistol, and had been told to shoot any bad people tat came near her.
‘I don’t know how a five-year-old can tell a good guy from a bad guy, but that’s what she said she was told.’
Paul Armand Rater was found later at a shop, where he told police he had broken down and had only left his granddaughter because she complained she couldn’t walk any further.
After leaving the girl with the gun, he ‘went for a few drinks and a cheeseburger,’ he told police.
The child was then returned to her mother and state child welfare were contacted.