A 71-year-old Memphis real estate developer is facing felony child abuse and assault charges after police say he threw a young boy to the ground and restrained him not once, but twice, in a dispute over fishing near his East Memphis home. Stanley Trezevant III has no bond currently set and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
According to WREG, the case began on September 12, when a mother told officers her son was fishing with a friend on the lake behind the 6400 block of River Tide Cove. Police say Trezevant told the two minors to leave the lake, then followed the boy and his friend after they walked away. He allegedly threw the boy to the ground, grabbed him by his left arm, and put the boy's hands behind his back as if arresting him, per the outlet's account of the police report.
The station also reports that Trezevant placed his knee on the boy's back during that first encounter. The boy's mother then took him to Baptist Children's Hospital, and officers later noted bruises on the boy's arm and leg, per officers cited in the report.
A Second Confrontation the Next Day
Officers went to Trezevant's home the day after the incident, on September 13, at which point he told them the two minors had been fishing on his property. But according to the police account relayed by the station, the confrontation didn't end there. Trezevant reportedly asked the minors to leave his property again, and as they left, he said he was going to make a citizen's arrest.
Police say Trezevant then grabbed the boy by the arm a second time, placed him on the ground, put his knee on him, and held his arm behind his back. According to Trezevant's account to police, the boy apologized to Trezevant and left. Trezevant was later identified as the suspect in a photo lineup, the outlet reports.
What Tennessee Law Says About Citizen's Arrests
The case raises pointed questions about the limits of civilian authority in Tennessee. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-7-109, private citizens in Tennessee have multiple grounds for making an arrest, including when a public offense is committed in their presence, when the arrested person has committed a felony outside the citizen's presence, and when there is reasonable cause to believe the arrested person committed a felony, according to Justia Law. Trespassing on private property is generally treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, which limits when a citizen's arrest is legally justified.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-7-113 further mandates that any private person who performs a citizen's arrest must deliver the detainee to a law enforcement officer or bring them before a magistrate without unnecessary delay, per the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General. The statute addresses the required transfer to police or a magistrate. Legal experts note that individuals who conduct unauthorized detentions or use physical force can expose themselves to civil liability for false imprisonment alongside potential criminal charges, according to Super Lawyers.
Felony Stakes in the Case
The child abuse charge Trezevant faces is a felony.
The assault charge is a separate matter. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-101, simple assault that causes bodily injury is charged as a Class A misdemeanor, per Justia Law.
A Prominent Name in Memphis Real Estate
Trezevant is a longtime figure in Memphis commercial real estate, with involvement in real estate spanning 40 years and including commercial and residential development, according to a Muck Rack biography. The biography's account centers on Trezevant's own real-estate involvement.
The 6400 block of River Tide Cove is in East Memphis, where the police account placed the lake involved in the incident.
What Happens Next
Trezevant is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. As of this report, no bond has been set in Trezevant's case.
