The Hayes family was horrified when they discovered, through a surveillance "nanny cam" they recently installed in their Garden City home, Bella Zalamea of Bay Shore repeatedly slapping and even attempting to smother their 10-month-old daughter with a stuffed toy.

Raymond Hayes notified Garden City police, stating that he had proof, through the surveillance videotape, of Zalamea, 62, abusing his daughter. Zalamea was at the residence when Garden City Police Officer Florio and Sergeant Kneisel, along with Nassau County 3rd Squad Detectives Cavanagh and Abriola, responded to the scene.

Officers observed the videotape, which showed Zalamea slapping the baby on the head, knocking her to the floor from a sitting position, slapping the victim on the buttocks twice and kicking the victim twice on the side of the buttocks while she cried on the floor. Police state Zalamea then sat in a chair, with the 10-month-old on her lap, and used a stuffed turtle toy to cover the little girl's face in a smothering motion for approximately 14 seconds. The incident occurred Wednesday, Nov. 3, at approximately 9 a.m.

Police Officer Florio arrested the defendant at 2 a.m. Nov. 4 and transported her to the 3rd Precinct with Detective Cavanagh for processing. Zalamea told police she took medication for high blood pressure and was transported to Nassau University Medical Center for a fit for confinement where a doctor declared her fit. Officers then transported the defendant to detention for arraignment. Zalamea's son responded to the scene and removed his mother's property from the Hayes' residence.