SENATOBIA, Miss — On Feb. 21, 2024, the Attorney Carlos E. Moore, representing the mother of a 10-year-old boy who was arrested for urinating in public in Aug. 2023, announced a federal lawsuit against Senatobia and the involved officers.
The child's mother said her son was arrested for urinating behind her vehicle in Aug. 2023. The lawsuit claims Senatobia officers put the 10-year-old in the back of a police car and held him in a jail cell for 45 minutes to an hour.
"The incident in question raises serious questions about the adequacy of training, supervision, and the overall culture within the Senatobia Police Department," said a statement from Carlos Moore Law Group.
The lawsuit claims the mother and son have suffered "severe emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, and panic attacks" due to the incident. It also asks for $2 million in compensatory damages.
"Through this legal process, we hope to contribute to a broader conversation about the need for reform and improved training to prevent similar incidents in the future. Our commitment is not only to seek justice for Q.E. and the Eason family but also to advocate for positive change that benefits the community at large," Moore said.
Days after the incident, Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler said the officers who took part in the arrest were no longer employed and the other officers would be disciplined. He also said the officers violated their training on how to deal with children.
"We appreciate the public's patience while we investigated this incident. We deeply value your trust and support, and we are dedicated to continually improving and learning from our mistakes," Chandler said in a Facebook post.
In February, a judge dropped a punishment of probation and a book report for the boy.