Toronto police have arrested and charged the parents of a nine-month-old baby who went missing with his mother earlier this week.
Police had been looking for them since Wednesday after they left the Hospital for Sick Children, where the boy was being admitted for malnourishment.
The boy and his 22-year-old mother returned to the hospital just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning. The child is now in the care of Child Services.
Police arrested the parents after they refused to allow hospital staff to examine the baby, who weight only 11 pounds, a healthy weight for a child much younger than his age. The Emergency Task Force was involved in trying to negotiate the checkup.
The parents have been charged with obstruction of justice.
Before the arrest, the child's father said the hospital overreacted and his child is not malnourished, but has a skin condition.
"His eyes are bright. They're saying from their World Health Organization standards he's not growing but that's about people being labeled Jamaicans or whatever. He doesn't fall into that."
The father also says the couple doesn't believe in invasive medical treatment and refused care due to their religion.
"We're Moorish Americans," he says. "We're divine, indigenous Moorish Americans. We're natural beings. We have the right to do what we want with our offsprings."
Police say they are not sure which parent first arrived with the baby, but say the mother's other child, a toddler, was also present.
Investigators are now desperately searching for the couple's other child -- a two year old boy. They fear for his safety as well.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 52 Division on (416)808-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS.
The couple will appear in court tomorrow.
