A Mississippi police officer is out of a job after police arrested and jailed a 10-year-old boy they found urinating in a parking lot.
The Senatobia Police Department faced a barrage of criticism for their rough treatment of young Quantivious Eason, as images circulated of the disgraced child in the back seat of a police car en route to jail.
Police Commissioner Richard Chandler admitted a “misjudgment” in taking the boy to jail to face a “criminal offense” charge.
But as pressure mounted, he found that one officer involved was “no longer employed” and other officers were being disciplined for disregarding department policies and training.
“We appreciate the public’s patience while we investigated this incident,” he wrote on the department’s Facebook page.
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Quantavious, a 10-year-old Mississippi boy, was arrested by Senatobia police last week after he was caught urinating behind his mother’s car
The incident brought tears to the youth’s eyes after he was surrounded by police and separated from his mother so she could fill out the paperwork to free him from custody
“We greatly appreciate your trust and support and strive to continuously improve and learn from our mistakes.”
Mother, Latonya Eason, said the officer who caught her son interrupted their meeting to tell her what he had found and that he would let Quantivious get away with a warning.
But she claims he changed his mind when other cops were there and an angry lieutenant demanded he be taken to the station and given a fine for being left unattended.
Eason told FOX 13 Memphis that she went to the parking lot to find her son, explaining, “I was like, ‘Boy, why did you do that?'”
Quantivious told her he decided to relieve himself after his sister – who was also in the car – told her the law firm didn’t have a toilet.
“He said, ‘Mom, my sister said they don’t have a bathroom there,'” Eason told the outlet, adding that at that point she planned to discipline the kid herself.
“I thought, ‘You knew better, you should have come and asked me if there’s a toilet,'” she recalls. She said the only official at the time initially seemed to agree.
“He was like, ‘Since you handled it like a mother, he might just get back in the car,'” she said of what the officer allegedly told her.
The child’s mother, Latonya Eason, has expressed outrage, telling local media that the arrest on August 10 could easily have been avoided and that the responding officer was wrong
She said she had a meeting at this law firm at 216 S Ward Street before the unnamed officer walked in and took her to the firm’s car park where her son had been waiting. Eventually, more police officers would arrive before the youth was arrested
Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler announces that an officer has left his job and others face disciplinary action over Quantivious’s arrest
But the child was evicted after senior officials arrived and charged a child who needed help, which will result in the city’s juvenile court being called in to help Eason deal with him.
Chief Chandler issued a lengthy statement saying the backlash was gathering strength in the city of 8,100, about 40 miles south of Memphis.
He said the child was not handcuffed and that under the Juvenile Courts Act a referral could be made against a 10-year-old for committing acts that would be illegal for an adult.
“The officer did not observe any parent at the scene upon initial contact,” he added.
“The mother was located shortly after at a nearby business and was told her child would receive a juvenile court referral on the matter.”
“The officers then transported the 10-year-old to the police station to complete the paperwork, where the child was handed over to the mother.”
“Under the circumstances, it was a misjudgment for us to transport the child to the police station as the mother was present at the time and provided a viable alternative.”
In his most recent statement, he revealed that the disciplinary measures taken against his officers were due to an “internal complaint”.
“Together we will pave the way to building a safer and more respectful environment for all,” he adds.
Quantivious, meanwhile, remains traumatized, tearfully telling the Fox affiliate this week, “I started crying a little bit.” They took me there and got me out of the truck. I didn’t know what was going on.’
“I get scared, start shaking and think I’m going to jail.”
Urine big problems: Chandler — who was named 2021 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the First Responders of Mississippi — has admitted a “misjudgment” by his subordinates
His mother said she was “stunned” by the officers’ behavior.
“No, it wasn’t right that he urinated in the parking lot, but at the same time I treated it like a parent,” she told the broadcaster, becoming more and more emotional.
“And that one officer told my baby to get back in the car like it was okay and the other one pulled up and took him to jail.” Like no.
“I’m just speechless right now.” Why would you arrest a 10-year-old kid?