Police say man attempted to flush a baby down the toilet

In the early hours of Tuesday, a domestic situation in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh quickly escalated into one involving police officers and a SWAT team.

According to authorities, the incident began at roughly 12:30 a.m. when those in the home struggled to get a baby from the arms of 31-year-old Dennis Gateley.

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Still holding the infant, he ran to the bathroom and allegedly attempted to flush his 6-week-old baby down the toilet, reports WTAE.

A woman was able to grab the child and flee the home.

According to witnesses, in the midst of the incident, Gateley had retrieved a gun from a firearm stash he kept in the bedroom.

A SWAT team and negotiators were called to the scene, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Gateley's surrender did not come until just before 2:45 a.m.

He is now facing multiple charges including endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault.

The baby was taken to an area hospital, and does not appear to have suffered any significant injuries, notes KDKA.