A seemingly minor incident of a child peeing in public has led to serious repercussions in Senatobia, Mississippi, culminating in a police officer’s termination and a 10-year-old boy on probation.
The case, which unfolded on 10 August 2023, has since sparked a fiery race row in the United States (US) and online.
Mississippi outraged after black preteen slammed with probation for peeing in public
Latonya Eason, the mother of the boy, recounted the distressing episode in an interview with FOX13. Her son, caught in an urgent situation with no public restroom available, stepped behind his mother’s car to relieve himself while she was attending a meeting with an attorney.
Initially, the first responding officer was ready to dismiss the matter with a warning, but the arrival of a lieutenant changed the course of events, leading to the boy’s detention in a police car and subsequently at the police station.
Residents of Senatobia, completely gob-smacked by the harsh treatment of a minor, voiced their concerns over the incident’s handling online.
Carlos Moore, the attorney representing the young boy, emphasised that his client acted discreetly and did not expose himself. The lack of a nearby restroom left him with little choice.
The boy, who later shared his experience of being held in a jail cell, was charged as a child in need of services and eventually released to his mother.
In response to the outcry, Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler announced that one officer involved in the incident was no longer with the department.
Additionally, several other officers are facing disciplinary action. Chief Chandler admitted the error in judgment, stating,
“It was an error in judgment for us to transport the child to the police station since the mother was present at the time as a reasonable alternative.”
He acknowledged the need for ongoing training and refreshers for officers to handle various situations appropriately.