Man accused of threatening to flush baby down toilet

Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh police have accused a man of threatening and trying to flush a 6-week-old baby down a toilet during a domestic dispute that led to a SWAT standoff.

Dennis Gateley was in custody Tuesday awaiting arraignment.

Police responded to a home in the city’s Mt. Washington section around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police say the woman managed to flee with the child, but the man wouldn’t immediately surrender.

Police say the 31-year-old Gateley eventually came out of the house about 2:40 a.m. and was taken to the Allegheny County jail.

The woman and child were taken to a hospital for evaluation but not believed to be seriously injured.

Gately faces charges including aggravated assault, unlawfully possessing a firearm and child endangerment. Online court records don’t list an attorney for him.