Mother accused of leaving 2-year-old alone in grocery store, beating him at checkout line

COVINGTON, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - A Tennessee woman is behind bars after police say she neglected and abused her young son at a grocery store.

According to the Covington Police Department, Lashona Johnson, 25, is facing child abuse and neglect charges after the reported abuse was captured on surveillance video.

Covington police say Johnson was arrested after another woman told them what she witnessed while recently at a Cash Saver grocery store on Highway 51.

Officers went to the store to investigate the woman’s claims and reviewed security video while speaking to employees.

They said a store manager confirmed an incident involving a mother and her 2-year-old son that happened on Wednesday.

The manager told police that a little boy was left at the service desk of the store, so employees put out a broadcast over the store’s intercom that a toddler was alone.

About 10 minutes later, the boy’s mother approached the desk and reportedly said to her son, “You know I’m going to beat your a**, right?”

Police said she then pulled the boy from the desk “in an aggressive manner,” dragged him to the middle of the checkout line, and “repeatedly struck the child on his back.”

Between the video evidence and witness statements, police were able to identify Johnson as the mother. Police said she later admitted to being the woman in the video.

“I am so thankful that a citizen and the witnesses reported this incident,” Covington Police Chief Donna Turner said. “It is a troubling video to watch. It was absolutely the right call to say something and report the incident.”

Authorities said they checked on the welfare of the child and released him to his father.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services also assisted in the investigation.