A federal litigation filed in Senatobia, Mississippi, charges that the civil rights of Quantavious Eason, an 11-year-old who was 10 at the time of the occurrence, were despoiled when he was jailed and chastened to trial for public urination.
The suit accused defendants in Senatobia of enormous force, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.
The incident occurred on August 10 when a police officer noticed Quantavious urinating next to his mother's car while she was inside an attorney's office.
Black Child's Mom Files $2 Million Federal Lawsuit
The litigation, filed by Quantavious's mother, Latonya Eason, names the city of Senatobia, Police Chief Richard Chandler, the arresting officer (no longer with the force), and four unnamed officers as defendants.
Accusations include exaggerated force, intentional infliction of emotional distress, failure to train and supervise, false arrest, and malicious prosecution.
The family's attorney, Carlos Moore, declared that race played a role in how Quantavious was mediated, both during the arrest and in court.
Moore indicates that the arrest would likely not have occurred if the child were white. The arrest, which involved another officer after the one who witnessed the incident did not make the arrest, resulted in Quantavious being held in a jail cell for up to an hour.
Quantavious was charged in youth court as a child in need of supervision and was placed on probation, which included writing a two-page report about Kobe Bryant. However, earlier this month, the youth court petition seeking to designate Quantavious as in need of supervision was dismissed.
In August, Police Chief Chandler acknowledged that the officer's decisions violated department policy and training, leading to disciplinary actions, including the termination of one officer.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial, and as of Thursday afternoon, representatives from the city and police had not provided immediate comments.
10-Year-Old Black Boy Arrested for Urinating in Public
A 10-year-old boy in Mississippi was arrested and taken to jail for urinating in public, leading to frustration from his mother, Latonya Eason.
The incident occurred on August 10 in Senatobia, near Memphis, when a police officer informed Eason that her son, Quantavious, was caught urinating behind her car at an attorney's office.
Eason explained that her son mentioned a lack of restroom facilities, and initially, the officer suggested a warning. However, additional officers, including a lieutenant, arrived and insisted on taking the boy to jail.
Eason expressed disbelief, stating that while her son's actions were not right, the situation should have been handled differently.
Quantavious, who felt scared during the incident, was held briefly in a cell without being handcuffed and was later released to his mother. He was charged with "child in need of services," a decision that Eason fears could traumatize him and affect his perception of encounters with the police.
Eason shared a photo on Facebook of her son in a patrol car, prompting public attention.
Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler referred to the state's Youth Court Act, which allows law enforcement to file referrals for children as young as 7 "in need of supervision" or 10 "if they commit acts that would be illegal for an adult."
Chandler acknowledged that transporting the child to the police station, given the mother's presence, was an error in judgment. He emphasized the need for ongoing training in the profession to avoid such mistakes.
