Five black children are returning home to Georgia with their parents after being taken into custody following a traffic stop in Tennessee nearly two months ago.
A state trooper said on Feb. 17 that he encountered Bianca Claiborne and Deonte Williams in Coffee County while they were on their way from their home in suburban Atlanta to a funeral in Chicago, saying they looked “pale and did not aggressively pass.” The vehicle was stopped because it was traveling in the left lane.by tennessee lookout, Tennessee Children’s Services subsequently took custody of the couple’s children, ages 7, 5, 3, 2, and 4 months.the infant was still breastfeeding
The Tennessee Highway Patrol took Williams into custody on suspicion of possession after a trooper reported smelling marijuana during a traffic stop and found 5 grams while searching the family’s vehicle. According to a report in the Lookout, possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor in Tennessee.
THP cited Claiborne but allowed her to leave with her children. Her mother said her traffic stop was a frightening experience for her and her children.
When Claiborne arrived at the Coffee County Justice Center to post bail for Williams, three DCS caseworkers greeted him.
The social worker instructed her to leave the children in the car and go inside to provide a urine sample. Claiborne refused, claiming she was afraid to leave her children alone with state caseworkers, who urged the officers to install spike strips around the vehicle.
Claiborne claimed he offered to take a urine test inside the Dodge, but was unable to do so.
When Claiborne brought his five children into the judicial facility to post bail, community caseworkers and police officers surrounded him and removed the children.
Since then, the children have been placed in a children’s home. They were separated between three homes before being taken in by a family friend in Nashville, who agreed to become temporary foster parents for all five.
The incident raised concerns about whether DCS acted appropriately when one parent faced charges of misdemeanor violations, and whether the family was treated differently because they were black.
Claiborne did not know that DCS officers had an emergency order for custody of the children. Observers said the order was likely due to negligence and that officials said they could not do anything “so drastic.”
When the parents showed up at Coffee County court a few days later to try to get their children back, they were ordered to submit to urine drug tests. Claiborne tested negative for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, while Williams tested positive. Both tests came back positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl and oxycodone, but he denied using any drugs.
Then, an unidentified official asked the couple for a quick hair follicle test. Coffee County administrators said the rapid follicle tests administered are notorious for producing false positives and cannot be admissible in court.
DCS filed an amended complaint of severe child abuse against the couple based on the results of an immediate test, Lookout reported. The couple’s attorney later subpoenaed testing, but DCS attorney Sheila Younglove said they could no longer take the test.
DCS officials filed a motion for prosecution and sanctions against the embattled family after sharing details of the process taking place in juvenile court.
When asked for comment on family reunification, a DCS spokesperson said, “The gag order remains in effect,” according to Lookout. “I’ll send you to juvenile court.”
Before taking custody of the children, DCS determined that the children knew their father was known as a “weed man” and knew how to spin a joint, and that the parents took the children on drug deals. He claimed to have revealed it. Williams called the allegations “absolute madness.”
Courtney Teasley, the family’s attorney, said all five children returned to their Georgia home on Thursday to be with their parents.
“The family is planning a celebration in their hometown,” Teasley said, according to the Lookout. A press conference and celebration will be held at the building,” he added. ”
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