MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Meridian Police Department has made its first arrest under Mississippi’s Grooming of a Child statute, marking what officials described as a significant milestone for the department.
Dennis Palmer was arrested Feb. 18 with assistance from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force. He was wanted on charges of Grooming of a Child under Mississippi State Code § 97-5-32 and Procurement of Sexual Servitude of a Minor under Mississippi State Code § 97-3-54.
The Grooming of a Child statute was enacted in July 2025 by the state of Mississippi. Authorities said this is the first arrest made by the Meridian Police Department under the new law.
Bond was set at $1 million, according to the department.
The case was investigated by the Meridian Police Department’s Human Trafficking/ICAC Unit, with assistance from the department’s Gang Unit, SWAT Team and K-9 Unit.
Officials said the arrest underscores the department’s ongoing efforts to protect children and hold accountable those accused of exploiting minors. The department said it will continue working with law enforcement partners to pursue similar cases in the future.
Palmer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.