A lawsuit seeking $2 million in damages has been filed by Latonya Eason, the mother of a 10-year-old boy arrested for urinating in public in Mississippi. The incident occurred in August 2023 when the child relieved himself near his mother’s car during a quick stop at a lawyer’s office. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the now-11-year-old Quantavious Eason, accuses the City of Senatobia, Police Chief Richard Chandler, Officer Zachary Jenkins, and four other unidentified officers of various offenses including excessive force, emotional distress, failure to train and supervise, false arrest, and malicious prosecution.
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Attorney Carlos E. Moore, representing the family, stated that the legal action aims not only for justice for Quantavious and his family but also for systemic change within law enforcement practices. Moore emphasized the importance of treating every individual with dignity and respect, regardless of age, and highlighted concerns regarding training, supervision, and the overall culture of local police.Addressing the issue of race, Moore claimed during a press conference that the treatment of his client was influenced by race, suggesting that if the child were white, he would not have been arrested. He described the incident as distressing, emphasizing that the boy and his mother suffered significantly for a common occurrence, as reported by TOOFAB.
According to Moore, the child needed to use the bathroom while waiting for his mother and decided to relieve himself discreetly on private property. Despite initially being reprimanded by his mother and an officer, the situation escalated when additional officers arrived, leading to the boy’s arrest and subsequent detention at the police station.
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The incident gained attention after Latonya Eason shared a photo of her son in the backseat of a patrol car, prompting statements from the police department acknowledging errors in judgment and violations of policy. Subsequently, one officer was terminated, and others faced disciplinary action, with the department committing to mandatory juvenile training.
Despite initially facing probation and a book report as part of the sentence, the case against Quantavious Eason was ultimately dismissed by Judge Rusty Harlow, affirming that the child was not in need of supervision. This outcome was celebrated by the family and their attorney as a victory for juvenile justice.
As of now, there has been no reaction from the city, police department, or the officers named in the lawsuit.
