Feb. 11--BERKELEY -- An 11-month-old boy from Berkeley missing since Friday was found in St. Louis Saturday afternoon with his babysitter.
Police said the boy, Zamari Oliver, appeared unharmed. The babysitter, 30-year-old Tamara Collins of the 6200 block of Tyndall Drive in Berkeley, was arrested pending possible charges in St. Louis and Berkeley.
Zamari had been missing since his father left him with Collins at her home about 10 a.m. on Friday. When the father returned at 6:45 p.m. to pick up Zamari, neither he nor Collins were there.
Police issued an endangered person advisory shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday.
Berkeley Police Chief Frank McCall Jr. said Berkeley officers received a tip through CrimeStoppers about 2 p.m. that Collins and the boy had been seen at a location in the 2600 block of Broadway in St. Louis.
McCall said Berkeley detectives and St. Louis officers quickly went to that location and found the pair.
Zamari was taken to a hospital for examination and was expected to be reunited with his parents there, McCall said.
McCall notified Berkeley police around 2:30 p.m. that Zamari had been found. One officer told McCall that she had lost sleep, hoping the child would be found safe.
"This is the best possible outcome," McCall said. "Our officers worked hard to do everything possible to make this happen."
Berkeley police Maj. Art Jackson said earlier that Collins was a family friend and had cared for Zamari on a regular basis. Police said she had been seen in Jennings on Friday without the child.
Copyright 2012 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
