Federal lawsuit threat looms over Senatobia City after 10-year-old jailed

A potential federal lawsuit hangs over Senatobia City following an incident where a 10-year-old boy, Quantavious Eason, was arrested and charged after a police officer witnessed him urinating in a parking lot, Action 5 news reports.

LaTonya Eason, Quantavious’ mother, recalls the events with disbelief, stating her son was placed in a police vehicle. “He made my son get out of the car, told my baby to put his hands behind his back, and they took him to the patrol car,” she said.

On Aug. 10, the mother and son visited a lawyer’s office, which, according to the family’s attorney, was on private property. LaTonya shared that while she was inside, her son, who was waiting in the car, had the urge to urinate. Since the office lacked a public restroom, he relieved himself beside his mother’s vehicle in the parking lot, drawing the attention of a Senatobia police officer.

After being made aware, LaTonya admonished her son, to which the initial officer responded amicably, suggesting she ensure he doesn’t repeat such actions. However, the situation escalated rapidly when four more officers, including a lieutenant, arrived at the scene. LaTonya was left astounded when her son was subsequently placed in a police vehicle.

Carlos Moore, representing the family, said that Quantavious was charged with being a “child in need of supervision.” He went on to describe the treatment Quantavious underwent, “They had him put his hands behind his back and they put him in a patrol car and took him to Downtown Senatobia. He calls it a ‘cage,’ put this boy into a cage for 45 minutes to an hour because he relieved himself on private property.” Fortunately, Quantavious was released the same day.

LaTonya expressed her distress, questioning the differential treatment if the child involved had been of a different race, and declared her unwavering intent to seek justice for her son. She said, “You don’t put my child in a cage, would have put your child in a cage? Would you have put a white child in a cage?”

Eleven days after the incident, Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler made a statement on Facebook, informing the public that one officer is “no longer employed” and others “will be disciplined”. The post never clarified if the officer was released from the force or quit the department on his own.

The Eason family, however, is far from satisfied with just an acknowledgment. Alongside the termination of the arresting officer, they are demanding an apology, financial compensation and the dropping of the charge against Quantavious.

Moore issued an ultimatum, stating, “We will give Senatobia two weeks to come to this family and do the right thing and settle this pre-litigation. Otherwise, the federal lawsuit will be filed, and we will get this family justice come hell or high water.”

Action 5 News states their efforts to reach the Senatobia Police Chief for comments have not been successful.