BERKELEY, Mo. -- The Berkeley mother wanted on charges related to making threats toward the school says she only wanted her son's story to be heard after she apparently found him in a hot seclusion room.
Tamika Stewart said she only wanted to expose the actions of her son's school.
"Who wants to see their child in the closet?" Stewart said. "I heard him saying, 'please, please, please,' but the man has him by his arms in the back of his head and his legs wrapped around him, restraining him."
On March 14, Stewart said she went to Berkeley Elementary School to see her 3rd grade son. The school staff informed her that her nine-year-old son, who has asthma, was in a seclusion room when she arrived.
"It was a wooden door, no windows; it wasn't big enough—like a PE closet with two mats in there," Stewart said. "[The teacher] opened the door, and heat is coming out—like it's hot. You can feel the heat coming towards me."
State records, previously obtained by the FOX Files, uncovered that the Ferguson-Florissant School District reported 29 instances of physical or mechanical restraint on students during the 2022–2023 school year. No instances of seclusion were reported to the state.
Stewart took her 9-year-old son to the doctor and admits anger got the best of her after she saw her son in the seclusion room and went on Facebook Live.
"I see how people straight lose their minds and go up in these schools," Stewart said on Facebook. "You'll see me on the news. Woman killed police, woman killed whoever, whoever is in my way."
Berkeley Police and the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney charged Stewart with first-degree terrorist threat and harassment.
Stewart said it's not her intent to hurt anyone.
"My intent is to protect my child and be a mother," she said.
The police are looking for Stewart. She said she plans to turn herself in after her son's story is heard.
The Ferguson-Florissant School District issued the following statement to parents on Thursday:.
Dear Ferguson-Florissant Families and Staff,
I want to take a moment to share with the larger community about a disturbing video that is circulating on the news and social media of a parent making violent threats directed at Berkeley and toward Berkeley staff members. I want to emphasize that, as a school district, we unequivocally denounce threats of any kind, especially those directed at our schools or staff.
Such actions instill fear, disrupt the learning environment, and jeopardize the safety of everyone involved. They are completely unacceptable and also against the law.
When this incident occurred, we immediately initiated a thorough investigation in accordance with our district policies and procedures. We have been working closely with the Berkeley Police Department and have taken the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff. As part of our efforts, we implemented increased security measures at Berkeley to further safeguard our school community.
This morning, we learned that the person who created these threats will receive appropriate action in coordination with the St. Louis County Prosecuting Office, and I have been in direct contact with the prosecuting attorney’s office regarding this incident.
Please know that the safety of our students and staff is one of our primary concerns, and any threats of violence are taken very seriously.
We remain committed to providing a safe learning environment for our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph Davis
Superintendent
Ferguson-Florissant School District
