An Illinois man put his knee across a toddler's chest and covered his mouth to suffocate the child, police said

A man has been arrested after he tried to suffocate his girlfriend’s 20-month-old child, police said.

On Sept. 14, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an incident of physical child abuse that allegedly occurred on Park Ridge Road in Springfield, Illinois, in April 2020, according to WAND.

Police said Justin Petro, 32, entered the bedroom of his girlfriend’s 20-month-old child on April 9, 2020, and tried to suffocate the child, WAND reported.

Home security videos showed Petro placed his knee on the child’s chest and covered the child’s mouth and nose with his hand until it appeared the child went unconscious, according to WAND.

Petro then exited, leaving the child unattended in the bedroom, WAND reported.

Petro was charged with aggravated domestic battery (strangulation), two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of domestic battery, according to WAND.

Members of the United States Marshal Service Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Petro at his home around 5 p.m. on Sept. 23, WAND reported.

Petro was released from custody after posting $25,000 bond, according to WAND.