Inset: Lashona Johnson (Covington Police Department). Background: The Tennessee grocery store where Lashona Johnson allegedly attacked her 2-year-old son last week (Google Maps).
A Tennessee mother is accused of leaving her 2-year-old son unattended in a grocery store and causing a scene after staff announced his discovery over the intercom system.
“You know I”m going to beat your a—, right?” the woman told the toddler before hitting him repeatedly in front of shoppers, cops say.
Lashona Johnson, 25, is charged with child abuse and neglect after surveillance footage and multiple witnesses reported the event, according to a police press release. She allegedly attacked her son at a Cash Savers store in Covington last Wednesday.
“The store manager reported a child found at the service desk,” stated Covington Police. “Staff used the intercom to announce a toddler was alone at the desk. About ten minutes later, a woman approached and told the child, ‘You know I’m going to beat your a—, right?’ “
Police allege Johnson “aggressively pulled the toddler from the desk” and “dragged him to the middle of the checkout line,” where she repeatedly hit the boy on his back before leaving.
“Detectives reviewed surveillance footage corroborating the witnesses’ accounts,” the press release mentioned, adding that the Department of Children Services (DCS) was alerted by Covington Police and aided in the investigation.
“Johnson was interviewed … and she admitted she was the female in the video,” the release adds. “The two-year-old child was released to his father. DCS continues their investigation into the incident.”
Johnson was arrested that same day and booked at the Tipton County Jail with a $50,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
“I am so thankful that a citizen and the witnesses reported this incident. It is a troubling video to watch. It was absolutely the right call to say something and report the incident.” said Covington Police Chief Donna Turner in a statement. “Our efforts provided a way to check on the welfare of the child, provide any services needed in this family through DCS, and to help prevent this from happening again.”
