Police in Mississippi Admit ‘Error in Judgment’ After Jailing 10-Year-Old Black Boy for Public Urination
Aug. 17 2023, Published 4:15 p.m. ET
A 10-year-old Black boy was allegedly jailed in Mississippi for public urination, leaving his mother “speechless,” RadarOnline.com has learned.
On Aug. 10, Latonya Eason was seeking legal advice at an attorney’s office in Senatobia when a police officer notified her that her child, Quantavious Eason, was urinating behind her vehicle, as Front Page Detectives reported.
Latonya told WHBQ, "I was like son, why did you do that? He said, 'Mom, my sister said they don't have a bathroom there.' I was like you knew better, you should have come and asked me if they had a restroom. [The cop] was like you handled it like a mom. He can get back in the car."
Eason said the cop was going to let the family off with a warning, but that changed when additional officers showed up, according to WHBQ.
The mother said a police lieutenant allegedly told her that hers son had to go to jail because of the incident and the boy was left in tears.
"I started crying a little bit," Quantavious told WHBQ. "They took me down there and got me out of the truck. I didn't know what was happening. I get scared and start shaking and thinking I am going to jail.”
Eason claimed her son was then held in a jail cell and later released, WHBQ reported.
He was charged with child in need of services and received a youth court referral.
Latonya said, “I’m just speechless right now. Why would you arrest a ten-year-old kid? That could really traumatize my baby.”
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In a statement to WHBQ, Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler said, "The child was not handcuffed during this incident. Under these circumstances, it was an error in judgment for us to transport the child to the police station since the mother was present at that time as a reasonable alternative."
He added: "Mistakes like this are a reminder in this profession as to the continual need for training and refreshers on the various topics that we encounter each day."
