A 10-year-old boy from Mississippi found himself in an unexpected predicament when he was arrested for public urination. The incident occurred on August 10, when the boy’s mother, Latonya Eason, was seeking legal advice at an attorney’s office in Senatobia, a town just south of Memphis.
According to Eason, a police officer informed her that her son, Quantavious, had been caught urinating behind her car. The boy explained to his mother that his sister had told him there were no restrooms available at the location. Eason expressed her disappointment in her son’s actions, reminding him that he should have asked her about the availability of a restroom.
Initially, the officer who caught Quantavious in the act told Eason that he would merely issue a warning and the boy could return to the car. However, the situation escalated when additional officers arrived on the scene, including a lieutenant who insisted that Quantavious be taken to jail.
Eason expressed her frustration with the situation, acknowledging that her son’s actions were wrong but criticizing the police’s handling of the situation. She was particularly upset that one officer had initially indicated that the situation was resolved, only for another to decide to arrest her son.
Quantavious, who was not handcuffed during the incident, described feeling scared and confused when he was taken into custody. He was held in a cell before being released to his mother. He was charged with being a child in need of services, according to Eason.
Eason voiced concerns about the potential long-term impact of the incident on her son, fearing that it could lead to him developing a fear of the police. She shared a photo on social media of her son in the back seat of a patrol car following his arrest.
In response to the incident, Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler issued a statement citing the state’s Youth Court Act. The act allows law enforcement to file referrals against children as young as seven if they are deemed in need of supervision, or as young as ten if they commit acts that would be illegal for an adult.
Chandler defended the decision to remove Quantavious from the scene, stating that the officer did not see a parent present. However, he also acknowledged that it was a mistake to transport the boy to the police station given that his mother was nearby. He emphasized the need for ongoing training for law enforcement to ensure appropriate handling of such situations.