A 1-year-old girl suffered minor injuries after her uncle allegedly tossed her down a garbage chute inside a Staten Island apartment building, the New York Police Department said.

Police allege that Aaron Henderson, 39, an autistic man, put the baby into the chute at around 3:15 p.m. Monday, according to the Staten Island Advance. 

The baby fell three stories into an inactive incinerator, police told the New York Daily News. Mr. Henderson is accused of putting his niece into the chute following a domestic dispute. 

After going back to his apartment, he told the girl’s parents she was in the chute, prompting them to rush downstairs and retrieve the child. First responders then took the baby for treatment in stable condition.

“I’m lost for words right now because I’m just … a baby down a garbage chute is just … it’s absolutely mind-boggling. I’m going to pray that God wraps his arms around this family and they get through this situation,” neighbor Milton Franklin told New York City’s WCBS-TV.

Mr. Henderson now faces charges of assault causing injury to a person less than 7 years old, assault with the intent to cause physical injury, acting in a manner injurious to a child under the age of 17 and two counts of unlawful imprisonment, according to court records. He went to court for arraignment Wednesday.

Police also psychologically evaluated Mr. Henderson on Tuesday, according to the Daily News.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.