A northwest Mississippi police department was embroiled in controversy earlier this month after officers arrested a 10-year-old boy for urinating in the back of his mother’s car. Now, one of the officers is “no longer on the job,” and others involved will be “disciplined.”
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Police identified the 10-year-old as a “child in need of services” for public urination
FOX 13 Memphis reports the situation unfolded on August 10 in Senatobia, Mississippi.
While Latonya Eason receiving legal advice, an officer reportedly interrupted the meeting to inform her that he had caught her son urinating in the back of her car.
The kid said he decided to do it because he thought there was no restroom at the attorney’s office. Latonya says the officer was pleased with how she handled the case “like a mother” by setting her son straight.
“He was like, ‘You treated him like a mother.’ He’ll get back in the car.”
However, several other officers soon arrived at the scene. One person said the child had to be held, leaving the mother “speechless.”
“I’m just speechless right now. Why would you arrest a ten-year-old?”
WTF!
Mississippi police arrested a 10-year-old boy for hiding behind his mother’s car and urinating while his mother was in a meeting with a lawyer.
The cops took the 10-year-old to jail, detained him, and kept the boy in a jail cell. pic.twitter.com/wsfNvZhQc4
— 🥀_ Imposter 🥀 (@Imposter_Edits) August 18, 2023
AP News reports that although the child was not charged or placed in handcuffs, he was taken to the police station and called a “child in need of services”.
In a statement to FOX 13 Memphis, a former official said Shawn Dalton they recognized how officers handled the situation.
“I’m a former cop, that should never have happened. I showed my wife and said this is sick. Does it take five cops to show up on a scene and confront a 10-year-old? No, no.”
Now, the Senatobia Police Department acknowledges that action was taken.
Chief Richard Chandler says the Department will receive training and one officer “No further hires”
The update came through a Facebook report from the desk Richard ChandlerSenatobia Police Chief.
The leader gave a summary of the announcement before reporting the behavior of the officers ” he countered [their] advance training on how to deal with these situations.”
It was also noted that the situation “Complaint arose from within” and it was “check according to [their] procedures.”
Ultimately, the investigation came down to “one of the officers [being] are no longer employed.” It is also noted that the other officers will be “disciplined,” and that the department will have “compulsory youth training.”
However, Chandler noted that the department participates in this training “every year.” It is not clear if it is new action will be implemented after the problem.
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