A Tennessee mother faces felony charges after allegedly assaulting her two-year-old son inside a grocery store, an incident captured on video surveillance and reported by a concerned citizen.
Lashona Johnson, 25, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, was arrested and charged with Child Abuse and Neglect following an investigation by the Covington Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID).
The investigation began on Thursday, October 2, 2025, after a caller reported witnessing a possible child abuse incident the previous day at Cash Savers, 951 Hwy 51, Covington. Detectives confirmed with the store manager that the incident occurred around 6:20 PM on Wednesday, October 1. The manager said a toddler had been left unattended at the service desk, prompting employees to make an announcement over the intercom.
Approximately ten minutes later, Johnson approached the desk. Witnesses and surveillance footage reportedly show her telling the child, “You know I’m going to beat your as, right,”* before aggressively pulling him from the desk. She then allegedly dragged the child to the checkout line and repeatedly struck him on the back.
CID analysts used the video to identify Johnson as the suspect and confirmed the toddler was her son. Johnson admitted to being the woman in the footage. The Department of Children Services (DCS) is continuing its investigation, and the child was released into the care of his father.
Chief Donna Turner praised the quick response of the reporting citizen and her department:
“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. 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.”
Johnson was transported to Tipton County Jail, held on a $50,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in Tipton County General Sessions Court before Judge M.O. Eckel, III, on Tuesday.
The Covington Police Department urges anyone with additional information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (901) 475-1261.
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